Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?

A great question! Many years ago a little child confided in me that a man who married into our family had abused them.

My mouth dropped open and I didn’t want to believe them. I would repeat back their story and change a fact and they always corrected me. They were telling the truth!

After some time I told the woman who married this man. Instead of believing me she dismissed me from her life. And I made it easy for her by walking away.

When I finally reported it to the police they said, “there is no material evidence.” I should have fought harder.

We had people in our family that were doctors, nurses and teachers and they blindly chose not to believe the child and remain close to the child abuser.

A Priest told me, “In order for them to believe you, they would have to change their life, and they aren’t going to do that .” He was 100% right!

Child sexual abusers are typically not strangers but rather people we know and allow close to our children.

My walking away was the void they used to make me out as the crazy one and the unworthy one. Why on earth would I have lied about this when it caused so much damage in my family, mainly to me?

All these years later I would have fought harder for this criminal act to be uncovered and prosecuted. Today it takes so much less to initiate these actions.

We live and we learn …

Bernadette on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/bernadetteamoyer and Instagram @bernadetteamoyer @bernadettesahm

#abuse #childabuse #sexualabuse #dodifferently #family #live #learn #lessons