About this Episode
This summer of 2021 Erik's father, Jon Lindbergh passed away. Jon was the oldest surviving child of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Anne was pregnant with Jon when they lost their first born, Charles Junior.
In this episode Erik and I sat down together in our studio and talked about Jon, what it was like for Erik to be his son, and how it informed who Erik is today. I'm proud of my hubby Erik for taking on this episode.
This is a special recording. Erik and I twice tried to record this episode over the past couple of months but the timing wasn't right, there was still much process and grieve. We once even sat in front of the microphones, took a deep breath, and then abandoned the recording. Erik understandably wasn't ready. This week, the timing was right and Erik was ready to share. At the end of the recording we added a couple of clips of Jon Lindbergh sharing his favorite childhood memories. It is difficult for us to hear Jon's voice with his loss still so new and raw, but we wanted to share these voice clips to help keep his memory alive.
I hope this episode brings you hope and healing among the parent-child relationships in your life.
Our Favorite Quotes from this Episode
It was still bubbling and burbling and it comes and goes in waves. You feel great and then it hits you again.
How to we navigate this stuff? It's painful no matter how you look at it.
I'm a glass half full kind of guy.
Keep talking to them [your children] because they may act like they are not listening, but they are.
I have compassion for him [Jon Lindbergh] because he grew up in very different circumstances. He was always loving, but awkward.
My dad, Larry Sanstrum, family was his life. Family was what he loved and thrived in. Family was his priority. Whenever I came home, Dad would stop everything he was doing and talk with me.
It was sort of a right of passage with my Dad when you could go on the high-hunt in the North Cascades. It was a bonding and empowering experience we had over the years. This is what we did.
I feel somewhat lucky in that I forgave him for his inadequacies, and I feel empathy for him, and I feel like he did the best he could which was inadequate. I'm probably inadequate as a father to my son, but I try and I try to do better, and give more, and give better. In that way we are all part of a circle. To forgive him is to forgive myself because it gives you permission to be who you are.
When you have compassion for yourself, you can have compassion for others around you.
Sometimes we say good parents have good kids, but we all know kids raised in amazing circumstances who end up screwed up, and we know the opposite.
We need to be who we are, and that begins today.
The house was not haunted when we lived there, it was probably us who haunted that house.
Have empathy and love for the stuff that hurts and the stuff that doesn't make sense.
Mentioned in this Episode
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Six Children of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh
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Birth of Jon Lindbergh
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Passing of Lyn Lindbergh's Father, Larry Sanstrum
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The trial of the century around Charles Junior.
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Jon Lindbergh and camera crew forcing the family car off the road.
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Leif Lindbergh, Erik's Brother
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Land Lindbergh, Erik's Uncle
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Hunting in the North Cascades
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What makes a good parent?
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Spence Campbell - ATC Aviation Training Center
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Family weddings and dancing like a robot.
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Erik's childhood home on Bainbridge Island, Washington.
