Thougth CT's advice was spot-on, time to take advantage of the national and local resources that are out there. There is immeasurable value in sitting in a room, or having a telephone conversation, or exchanging emails, with peers who have experienced the same horror, and who have broken away to carve an abuse-free life for themselves.

It is not surprising that the second affair after one that was abusive is one that is, in some ways, "safe" since the man is married. No risk, no opportunity for long term committment. Now that LW has a clear and objective measure of the depth of the relationship for her, time to move on. And, as CT so eloquently notes, the sequence doesn't much matter, what does matter is that LW continue to seek some sense of self-awareness and confirm and nurture her self-worth.

To that end, kudos to LW for getting out of an abusive relationship!!! I believe it to be profoundly difficult to break those symbiotic ties, frankly, and LW demonstrates real courage in leaving the cad. As LW continues to explore herself and her own sense of self-worth, she can come to understand that she can seek and find a relationship that is constructive, not destructive. She deserves it!

I am fascinated by those who leap to judge LW for his callow youth, and assume that seasoning, somehow, in "the real world' will illustrate to him the callowness of his beliefs. Subsequent to that, one might assume that LW will return, gratefully and humbly to the fold, tail tucked between his legs.

I suspect that the difference in political beliefs is the tip of the iceberg, and that this has become the "identified conflict" for LW, perhaps being more safe than looking at what may be, by now, profound belief differences between he and his parents. Politics, in and of itself, are not usually the shear line for severing from a family.... to that end, one might encourage LW to look a bit deeper at his anger, not to shed or discard it, but rather, to honor and understand it so taht he can more eptly understand his passion and palpable disgust. When he fully understands more precisely what is driving his profound negative reaction to his parents, he can then move his own adult life forward with greater clarity and self-possession, motivated by a proactive sense of self, rather than a reactive sense of response to his presumably toxic parents. Will that lead to a raprochment with his parents? Possibly. Or, it might lead to a clear and concise severance of any relationship with his parents at all.

As for the letter writers who assume that "this young lad needs to know that his parents will lovingly be there for him in some future "crunch time"....... for heavens sakes, grow up. That concept betrays a naievete about the incredible range of behavior by - parents...... Not all parents have attended the John and Harriet Cleaver school of parenting.