Comments for Child Abuse Story From Michelle2

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 11, 2008
 NOT your fault...
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

Michelle, as a 6-year-old little girl, if you had run around buck naked, it wouldn't have been provocation for sexual assault. You said you have a difficult time accepting that what those sex offending boys did to you was not your fault. I'm going to put your perception into a different perspective: I doubt very much that you would blame your 9-year-old daughter if she were being victimized by molesters, regardless of the circumstances. I doubt very much that you would accept her being ashamed of herself. So why—HOW—can you possibly blame YOURSELF as a 6-year-old! You accepted candy...what 6-year-old wouldn't! The responsibility for the criminal acts committed against you lies with your molesters, Michelle. Period. End of story. No question about it. You are now a full-fledged adult with children of your own. You can't possibly believe that as a vulnerable and helpless 6-year-old you had the power or wherewithal to protect yourself and stop the abuse from happening. For goodness sake, you were barely out of diapers; protecting you from harm was the job of the adults around you, just as it is now your job to protect your daughter from harm (which is why you won't leave her in the care of a babysitter).

Michelle, the first challenge for you is in shifting the way you think about what happened to you as a child. When you change how you think, you change how you feel. Cut yourself a break; you have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of. NOTHING!

As for the way your life has unfolded, the impact of being sexually abused in childhood has truly been far-reaching in your adulthood. You have lived a life chock-full of grief; grief that most wouldn't have to face if they lived a hundred years. Yet here you still are. Do you not realize how strong you are? Do you not realize the depth of your capacity to love? Do you not realize that you are an amazingly resilient woman? Horrible person??? I THINK NOT!!!

I can't offer you the names of any support groups, Michelle. I can only offer the benefit of my insight and words of encouragement. I do hope you'll stay in counselling. Your counsellor may be able to help you further understand the message that I've attempted to instill in you here; a message that will not only help you deal with your past and present demons, but also help you as a mother to your precious daughter (and son). I've said this numerous times before: The best gift you can give your children is to take good care of their mother. Take good care of yourself, Michelle. You are definitely worth it.

Darlene Barriere
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir
Aug 12, 2008
 Sorry
by: Karen17

Hey my name is Karen I love writting poetry and well I have never been abused. I'm only 17 years old and the poems I write are about teenage girls. I really would love to hear more about your story. I'm so sorry to hear about all the bad suffering you had to go through as a child.

Karen

***Edited by Darlene Barriere - Webmaster***
Aug 12, 2008
 To Karen 17:
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

I have removed your email address from the post you offered to Michelle. I have a strict policy that does not permit visitors to include email addresses or any other personal identifying information. I do this to ensure that all my visitors are kept safe. I trust you understand, and ask that you please refrain from including such personal information in your comments on this site.

Thank you, Karen.

Darlene Barriere
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Write Your Child Abuse Story.

Return to Child Abuse Story From Michelle2

Disclaimer: To the best of my knowledge the child abuse
stories on this site are true. While I cannot guarantee
this, I do try to balance the need for the submitter to be
heard and validated with the needs of my visitors.



E-book: Victim To Victory

From Victim to Victory
a memoir

How I got over the devastating effects of child abuse and moved on with my life

Read more...

Most Recent

RSS

  1. Converging Stolen Lives

    Jan 30, 18 01:13 PM

    There was a time and space I didn’t think about you, or your abuse. Where when I looked back at my life, I only saw normal things, a normal childhood.

    Read More

  2. A letter to one of the 13 Turpin children

    Jan 29, 18 11:33 AM

    A heartfelt letter by a former classmate that speaks to bullying and regrets. You'll find it on my Facebook group. I hope you'll join and get in on the discussion.

    Read More

  3. Dissociated From Abuse

    Jan 29, 18 11:00 AM

    I was sexually abused by my father from age 6 to 13, which stopped when I started talking about it during the day. The teenage brother of my best friend

    Read More

E-book: Victim To Victory

From Victim to Victory
a memoir

How I got over the devastating effects of child abuse and moved on with my life

Read more...