Child Abuse Story From
Bobbie

Bobbie is from Pineview, Georgia, USA

The following child abuse story from Bobbie depicts: sexual abuse

The child abuse effects on Bobbie: anger toward family members who did nothing when they knew, feelings of betrayal, shame, disgust and self-loathing

I am a 56-year-old woman. I am a teacher. I was researching information on the effects of sexual abuse in order to better understand the behavior of my daughter-in-law. I sensed and saw behaviors that made me suspect she had been abused.

I thought I had dealt with the sexual abuse of my uncle. The information I found has been most helpful in helping me to realize and understand the feelings and thoughts I had were normal.

My heart goes out to the children who suffer at the hands of the people closest to them. The feelings of utter betrayal are overwhelming. I have felt shame, disgust, and self-loathing. I have anger toward family members who should have protected me.

I told my mother and her response was to tell me not to tell anyone else and not to talk about it. So, I didn't. I never said another word...until I had a niece. I was at a family gathering and saw him holding her on his lap. I thought...you won't do to her what you did to me!!! I told my brother and he confronted our mother. She denied everything!!! She said she never knew a thing. She later said she thought it only happened once and she had told her brother (my uncle) it better not happen again.

I hated my uncle. I would hide in the back of the closet with all the clothes in front. I would hold my breath and pray he wouldn't hear me breathing.

He was a terrible person. I later found out I wasn't the only person he behaved inappropriately with. My brother asked our mother, "Just how many people were you willing to sacrifice?"

Later in life, he had diabetes and lost both legs. When he was older and sick, I wished I could forgive him. All I felt was relief that he wouldn't be able to abuse anyone else.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my feelings.