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Child Abuse Story From Alyn

by Alyn
(United Kingdom)




Why me: 
From an early age I was physically abused my mother. She would hit me with whatever she had in her hand when she really lost her temper (which wasn't that often, thank goodness) because my father made up for it. He would lose his temper, beat me, calm down and then work himself up again and beat me again and again. It developed from hands to fists to belts, broom handles and chairs. If he had it in his hand look out. You had it.

In later years my friends stopped coming to my house because they wanted to go out courting. I could not because my father did not, would not, give me any pocket money but made me say he did so I was full of excuses why I couldn't do this and that. He would insist I go with him to steal coal for the fire. Carrying a sack of coal for about a mile from the colliery tip at an early age took its toll on me. Now I am older and full of back pain. Even now I could not say to the consultant in the hospital when he asked about heavy lifting, "Yes, it's because I was stealing sacks of coal from about 8 years old."

I really think my parents beat my spirit out of me. I grew up to be a wimp, afraid of my own shadow :-( (so maybe that's why I always tried to be friendly with people) Some of my friends knew what I had to put up with, so I think they must have told their parents and people talk especially in the small village where I used to live. So I think some people knew. I was easy prey to take advantage of. I can't believe how naive I was/am.

The first time, there was one guy down by the railway in a old shed, trousers round his ankles, playing with his thingy, calling me and my friend in to touch and play with him, but I managed to stand by the door where the top half was broken and place stones against the bottom to jam it a little and we ran off. The police were called by my friend's parents and eventually he went to prison.

Then there was the neighbour who used to touch me.

Then the worst one of all was the shopkeeper who I thought was my friend. He would give me sweets to cheer me up and I confided in him. He would take me into the back of the store and make me do things to him and him to me and reminding me what my father would do to me if he found out (and he was right). My father would believe anyone over us.



For 49 years I have kept this bottled up inside me, and as a result of my life, I grew up not knowing how to talk to people, not knowing how to treat people—especially my wife and kids—properly, always coming out with snide remarks, snapping at them. But I never hit my wife, as my father did to my mother. A smack on the ass for the kids when they were naughty was all I did. Didn't know how to show affection to my wife, which caused her to find someone else that could. I could not go to counseling, as everyone wanted money for each session. I could not afford that, and the wife would have wanted to know where the money had gone to.

Then I discovered computers. So I tried to sort my problems out. I tried to talk to people on the Net. The result: police came and arrested me and now I am about to be prosecuted and most probably jailed. Don't get me wrong, I am not a pedo or anything. I do talk to kids and show them a little respect, but I don't think the police see it that way. I have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. They are my life and would never be that cruel to them. Now at 54 years of age I think every day, what is the point of my life? I will eventually die a sad lonely old man, so what is the point. I have told you my story and now tears are streaming down my face, and that's how it will be in court. I won't be able to speak out, just squeak; sad aren't I.

A Video Reading by Darlene BarriereNote from Darlene: I regret that I can no longer continue the practice of commenting on visitor submissions to the degree I have in the past, as I am currently writing a book on healing from child abuse. I ask that you please read my post of June 24, 2009 titled Announcement Regarding my Comments for a complete explanation. I welcome you to follow my progress on my Facebook page at Healing from Child Abuse. When you get there, don't forget to click onto the Become a Fan link. I do hope to hear from you there.

Email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses AND website/blog URLs in visitor comments are STRICTLY prohibited, and could result in being banned from making further comments on this site.

Comments for
Child Abuse Story From Alyn

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Jul 03, 2009
You are stronger than you realize...
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

I don't know about sad, Alyn, but I do know that as a survivor of horrible child abuse, you have an inner strength that you can draw upon. After all, you DID survive terrible abuse, over and over and over again. Whatever it is you've done, whatever crime the prosecution believes you have committed, if you committed it then you must pay the societal price. And if that IS the case, then use the time to connect with Who You Really Are. Use the time to reconnect with the spirit that is still there for you. The spirit that you believe is broken, but can never be truly broken. You have only to go inside yourself to make that reconnection. You are much stronger than you realize. Keep telling yourself that, Alyn, until you believe it yourself. Ask not "why me", but rather, ask "what can I do to turn this pain into power?" THAT would bring purpose to your life, Alyn.

Thank you for sharing your story with my visitors and me. I wish you all the best.

A Video Reading by Darlene Barriere
Darlene Barriere
Webmaster: www.child-abuse-effects.com
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

Jul 04, 2009
Hi be fair to yourself, begin seeing yourself differently
by: maurice

Hi Alyn, great you sat down and related your feelings after abuse to Darlene and her visitors all of whom have journeyed through abuse and out of it to all levels of degrees of healing from it. Alyn abusing the body is one thing but abusing one's spirit and in your case almost killing your spirit to believe in yourself. NOTICE I said almost, They have not killed it completely, Alyn it will be of slow growth but you must begin today telling yourself I am me in my own right NOW at 49 years. For years I have let their opinion of me rule my thinking and being. I was not able to think for myself because of the abuse they meted out on me physically, mentally and emotionally, they ruined me. and my spirit, Great you have arrived at Darlene's site Alyn you are now among friends who really care and love you for who you are in the telling. Darlene's loving words and advice to you is where you must begin Today. You will find it hard but I know, Darlene knows, all her visitors know that only you can change. I'm Special, I'm Beautiful, I'm 49 years of age I am my own person, I'm strong and brave to do what is best for me, all I need do is think positive things about myself, act in a positive way and make these things work for me making me feel good inside and out about myself, be positive, make these things happen because you are the one that will benefit from the doing of them. Okay, you're 49 years, most of those years were sort of miserable ones for you Alyn. You must let go of those awful painful agonising years when you were put down, made to feel like a piece of S. scarred all over. HI ALYN it won't be easy but coming onto Darlene's Site will give you the courage and the hope that I can do it, I will do it, I must do it NOW just for me. Now begin to see that wonderful beautiful you in the mirror and say loving caring thoughtful nice things about your beautifulness. From day one you were beautiful in your nakedness, sadly parts of that beautifulness were scarred by cruel and vicious human beings called parents.

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