This forum could do with a good GM!

Too much trolling and troll-feeding. What we need is a happy GM!

A couple of jobs ago I came out to a coworker who I was getting to be friends with. I wasn't sure how he'd react, because I knew he had three daughters of his own. He was cool about the whole thing, and our friendship grew.

Eventually we started to socialize outside of work. Generally it was just adults, but at one point I was invited to a BBQ at his house. He asked if I had any concern or legal restrictions about being around his daughters; I told him that the concern if any should be his, as he was inviting a known pedophile into his house, but there were not any legal restrictions. He told me he knew I wouldn't hurt his kids, and he had no problem with me being around them.

Well, it was a great day playing in the yard, hanging out with my friend, his wife, and their daughters. His youngest decided I was a good "jungle gym" and I spent much of the day getting climbed on, giving piggy back rides, and so on. It was by far the most physical contact I've had with a LG in years, and it was wonderful. (Note to all you PJ readers: no, I wasn't thinking about anything sexual, and no, I didn't touch her in any way that was intended for my sexual satisfaction.) It felt so good to be a "fun adult" again -- it has been years since I've really done that with an LG or LB. The smiles, giggles, and hugs are so gratifying!

At one point he wandered off to cook and seemed to have no qualms about leaving me alone with his daughters. Well, I have a personal policy of NEVER being alone with a child for ANY reason, so I followed him in to the house with his daughter on my back. But the fact that he knows me well enough to trust me with his girls was amazing. It was so deeply gratifying to know that my good friend "gets it" when it comes to MAAs: he knows I'd never hurt a child.

We continue our friendship to this day -- although we no longer work together, we see each other on a regular basis.

:)

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Paedestrian