Since my daughter was little, I carefully taught her that "all boys are scumbags".
On a serious note I did experience a transistion time with my daughter before she got romantically involved with boys which I wasn't expecting. She wanted to cuddle with me. While watching TV or reading she would snuggle up like she did when she was a little girl. Something told me that my presence was helping her in a way that I didn't quite understand.
Ms Steinem? I didn't know you were a FReeper!