>>3921112I want this but I always feel bad. I shouldn't want shos to be depressed just so that I can more easily swoop in to comfort them: they should be naturally so happy that they don't 'need' me; I can make their happiness greater, but am not a prerequisite for its existence.
I feel the same with the whole 'boy who lacks a paternal figure' thing. They're so desperate for male attention, but it just feels so wrong. I mean I guess you're just helping him feel better. But you know if he'd been raised properly with a worthwhile father he'd never have sought you, or that general male attention, out to start with.
How to differentiate filling a void, versus keeping a wound open for your own benefit? I'm probably being too cynical, but I think about these things.
