Early Morning Companion

But were the good old days so good? Was the family ever free of violence? Many people who come to therapy today were raised in the so-called golden age of family, and yet they tell stories of abuse, neglect, and terrifying moralistic demands and pressures. Looked at coldly, the family of any era is both good and bad, offering both support and threat.

from Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore; HarperCollins; New York; 1994

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews by Thomas Gainsborough; National Gallery, London