Oh, yikes, your ex sounds like a real winner. I'm sorry that your relationship went on as long as it did, but sad to say, so many of us have been there, spending way too long with the wrong partners. I think that, in the end, Leo wasn't necessarily a bad person — and has possibly even since outgrown some of the characteristics I didn't like — but the red flags he waved were just way too blatant for me to take the plunge on something more serious.

As for your daughter, I hope that she encounters nothing but respect in her world! I like to think there's a lot of hope for the younger generations with respect to social consciousness and egalitarianism. Let's keep our fingers crossed for good things for them. :)