I received notice today that Bob Comenole will be offering a Master Class in memoir writing, and that all participants will be invited to take part in an anthology that will be published later this summer. What a great opportunity to continue my writing and spend time with some wonderful new friends.
Initially I was very hesitant to tell my story because I was not sure how it would be perceived by others. Abuse is a very sensitive topic and often one rather left untouched by many. The more I thought about this, the more I realized that this is the exact reason that I do need to open up. If I don't take a stand and start breaking the barrier that sexual abuse is something better left unsaid, then who will? We NEED to hear the words so that we can first accept that it really is happening in our world, and then start to change how we react to it. If we continue to remain silent then we are accepting that we cannot change things. I want to let you know that you CAN change things!
By opening your ears and listening to what a child is saying, you are opening your heart and showing them that you care enough to help. You may be the only chance that this child has. If they attempt to disclose for the first time and are put off, they may feel that others will not want to listen as well, and then sadly won't attempt to seek help again. Sexual abuse is no different than physical abuse. The scars that it leaves behind will forever be imprinted in the minds of those affected.
So I have decided to humble myself and tell the world that I made a choice to save my child. It wasn't done to make myself look like a hero, it was done to protect a little girl. An innocent sweet child who desperatly just wanted the abuse to stop. The choices that I made showed her that she deserved more in life than to be treated as an object, and this is a decision that I would make again in heartbeat.
Initially I was very hesitant to tell my story because I was not sure how it would be perceived by others. Abuse is a very sensitive topic and often one rather left untouched by many. The more I thought about this, the more I realized that this is the exact reason that I do need to open up. If I don't take a stand and start breaking the barrier that sexual abuse is something better left unsaid, then who will? We NEED to hear the words so that we can first accept that it really is happening in our world, and then start to change how we react to it. If we continue to remain silent then we are accepting that we cannot change things. I want to let you know that you CAN change things!
By opening your ears and listening to what a child is saying, you are opening your heart and showing them that you care enough to help. You may be the only chance that this child has. If they attempt to disclose for the first time and are put off, they may feel that others will not want to listen as well, and then sadly won't attempt to seek help again. Sexual abuse is no different than physical abuse. The scars that it leaves behind will forever be imprinted in the minds of those affected.
So I have decided to humble myself and tell the world that I made a choice to save my child. It wasn't done to make myself look like a hero, it was done to protect a little girl. An innocent sweet child who desperatly just wanted the abuse to stop. The choices that I made showed her that she deserved more in life than to be treated as an object, and this is a decision that I would make again in heartbeat.
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