1 Comment

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  by L.A. 1 year ago

  We should never need a day or a week to make people aware of child neglect & abuse. Keep an eye on them, their the future.http://tinyurl.com/ye32u93
  
  The sad reality is how children are not educated enough outside the home or in home by anyone really, or in school enough on this subject for fear of possible influencing them the wrong way of saying something or accusing that might not have actually happened. Yet the other sad reality is that those that are abused sexually tends to be a hidden secret by the child because it isn't always physically visible or apparent because it is a silent abuse without always the visible signs such as bruising or scars that one can see to know it is happening. The tale-tale signs are not always easy to notice, or parents not researching enough to understand what those tale-tale signs are to watch for.
  
  A child fears no one will believe them because they are taught to mind & respect adults such as parents/grandparents/babysitters/older siblings & even adult friends of the family. Manipulative is the person who abuses a child that way, so the secret is kept for fear of not getting the things promised to them (gifts, etc.) or told that no one would believe them anyway. Their word against the adults who usually tells them they will deny it.
  
  I grew up in a house just like that & was the step-father, his friend whom was left to babysit us girls when we were little, uncle & even my grandfather when babysitting. What happen when I finally found the courage at 9 to say something to my mother? She replied, "Your lying, because if it had actually happened you would be dead, because it would have killed you." We know this isn't exactly true. She remained in disbelief (still does not acknowledge it today that it really happened nor apologizes for ignoring it) as did others until I was 13 when to her surprised walked in on an attempt that I was thankful for happened & then knew I was telling the truth, yet voiced herself at that time in anger, but still did nothing more about it afterwords. So, what does that make her? Just as guilty as the parties who did it.
  
  I'm extremely protective of my daughters. I take precautions of whom they are around or left alone with even if I trust those people around my girls. I have discussed it with them at early ages (not telling them I was abused that way - not yet at least) but for them to know & help understand it is wrong & to say something to me & if feeling uncomfortable in that to speak up to someone. Many times even if parents do discuss w/their children of how wrong it is or understand what it is, society tends to have a hard time acknowledging it & always considers the benefit of doubt first because it is harder to prove depending on the age of the child sometimes. Many like my mother & others choose to be in disbelief because of that fact.
  
  For many depending on age there were no laws set up many years ago or few depending on states for prosecuting the abuser of sexual offense against a minor. Since many states have established "Statute of Limitations" of how long one can bring up a case for punishment to the sexually abusive party. Some states have amended these laws or giving extensions, not all. Reason why in the public eye many now are speaking out about, "Incest, sexual child abuse happened to me", from celebrities to people in general.
  
  To know more & I am sure that this is covered in your book I assume & researched regarding "Statute of Limitations" for reporting such abuse can also be found here for helpful information.
  
  http://www.darkness2light.org/KnowAbout/articles_extensions_statutes.asp
  (States establish different deadlines depending on whether the cause of action involves a contract, personal injury.)
  as well as:
  http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Statute+of+Limitations (information on how laws & statute of limitations was established & how it works)
  
  Usually counting from the last day of offense, memory recall (time of memory realizing) it happened to you & still based on some kind of proof or support from others that are willing to admit it happened or were told. It's been 32 yrs since it happened to me. Not knowing for many of those years I had a right to still prosecute. 26 yrs from the last time the uncle attempted. So the statute has expired, the court lacks jurisdiction to try or punish a defendants.
  
  Victims of child sexual abuse who sought to sue their abusers for damages faced a statute of limitations question: Had the time expired to file a civil lawsuit because the memory of abuse was not recovered until many years after the actual abuse? Many still remain silent or do not prosecute or think they can, thus in some cases prevents even Tolling the Statue of Limitations because of silence or failure to disclose the existence of a cause of action within a timely manner once recalling memory of the events. Many choose not to because of whom all this will hurt besides the parties responsible. Thus becoming the families dirty little secret.
  
  Then again, much of this you already know as do those whom have experienced it, yet many still might not know that they can still do something about it. I'll have to go in search of your book so I can share it w/my daughters. Unlike my mother who denied it & always in disbelief, I know as a victim I would never do what my mother did to me & dismiss it.