July 11, 2024

001

truth is

Some days are still hard. We ​are “over the worst of it” as ​they say. There are no more ​court hearings or forensic ​interviews to endure. We no ​longer face my daughter’s ​abuser and his supporters ​on a daily basis. We left our ​town and all of the people ​in it. A brand new start!

But, it’s still hard. So much of my daughter’s identity is still tied ​up in what happened. I wonder if the abuse caused as much ​damage as the aftermath. The loss of friends and family who ​would have preferred she suffer in silence and never speak out ​loud about what happened. But, I don’t think trauma is ​quanitfiable. I don’t think that we can measure one hurt against ​another. The truth is... most people don’t want to know the ​truth. Most are perfectly content living in their version of reality. ​Where victims are complacent in their own abuse and those ​who dare to speak out are condemned for doing so.

@truthis.info/blog

I don’t mean to sound bleak.

If you’ve stumbled upon this blog in hopes of finding inspiration ​or a light at the end of the tunnel, I want you to know that it ​does get better.

But, I’d be remiss if I said that childhood sexual assault doesn’t ​leave a scar. That it doesn’t start to be the thing that you ​identify yourself by.

After I learned of my daughter’s abuse, it forced me to open ​some closed up memories in the back of my mind. Of my own ​story. Of how I came to be the person I am today.



I am NOT defined by what ​happened to me. But, I am the ​person I am largely because of it. I ​hope that by sharing my story as a ​survivor and the mother of a victim ​I will help to end the stigma around ​this topic. This is not a “private ​matter” that should be handled ​behind closed doors. Afterall, ​behind closed doors is where the ​abuse occured.




I hope that you will join me in bringing light to this subject. ​Giving victims a safe space to share and heal. Allowing them ​their voice which has been stolen from them.

If there is one thing I really hope to change it is to give the ​power back to the victims. To allow them to tell their stories ​without judgement. To give them permission to heal without ​fear of retaliation. For too long we’ve been forced to stay ​quiet and keep the peace. Whose peace were we keeping?