Tag Archives: sexual abuse

Who Comes First in Your Marriage?

When it comes to a choice between your spouse and your children, who comes first? You spouse should be the one who comes first in your concerns, thoughts and plans. He or she is the one you are married to, that you have committed to live your life with, ‘for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer.’ The children will grow up and leave home and need you less. If you make them the centre of your lives what will you have left when they leave? Yes, I missed our children when they left … Continue reading →

What Would You Not Forgive – Part 2?

Yesterday I told you of the discussion four of us had about what we would not forgive or would struggle to forgive. The other thing both of us the women in the group mentioned was domestic violence. I’d find it hard to live with a man who took out his frustration and anger on me in violent ways. You’d always be walking on eggshells wondering what next would set him off. I say he, because although abuse of husband by wives does happen, it is less common. With domestic violence there is often a pattern where the violent act is … Continue reading →

When Should Kids Be Allowed To Use Public Restrooms Alone?

Maybe I’m overprotective or just plain cautious. When Tyler and I are out in pubic I never allow him to go to a public restroom alone. He either goes in the ladies room with me, we use one of the family restrooms or if it’s one of those one-per-person deals, he can go in the men’s room alone while I stand guard at the door. But apparently not all parents are so cautious. Take the case of a couple in Iowa who sued a Wal-mart store because they say their 4-year-old son was sexually assaulted in the men’s room. The … Continue reading →

Borderline Personality Disorder: Causes and Treatment

Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most common of the personality disorders, affecting approximately 15% of the population. Sufferers typically indulge in intense but stormy relationships, have difficulty exerting control over their emotions, display marked impulsivity in their behaviors, fear abandonment and may indulge in self-harming behaviors and suicidal thoughts. Sufferers of borderline personality disorder often have associated mood disturbances with up to 70% also experiencing major depression. Eating disorders are also common: up to 25% of bulimics have a co-diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Well over 50% of substance abuse sufferers also show signs of borderline personality disorder. … Continue reading →

Bitss of Caramel Marmalade on Toast – Megan Bayliss

Megan Bayliss is an advocate for children’s safety in her home country of Australia, working as a social worker. Her blogs on child sexual abuse have caught our attention and her devotion to bringing this to the forefront is admirable. In a desire to help her spread her word about the importance of keeping our children safe and teaching them how to deal with would-be predators, I’m reviewing her children’s book “Bitss of Caramel Marmalade on Toast.” Bitssy is a half-dingo who lives in the city with her owner. She has a beautiful backyard full of plants, flowers and trees … Continue reading →

What is Age Appropriate Sexual Development in Early Childhood? Introduction.

A child of four inserts a pair of scissors into her bottom. A child of eight attempts to put his penis into his little sister’s vagina. Is this acceptable behavior? No. Is it developmentally normal? No. These are indicators of something being wrong and worthy of concern. What is developmentally normal though? It can be so confusing and scary when a parent catches their children engaged in sex play. Usually the parents first reaction is shock, followed quickly by anger, and then concern, both for their own perception of perhaps being a bad parent and then for their child: “Am … Continue reading →

Is your past affecting your present?

Did you choose your life partner because he or she was physically attractive to you and has qualities that you find important? You may believe that you chose your partner based on the thoughts and feelings you had about them at the time you met them. But other, deeper forces may have been at work. It’s not uncommon to choose partners who in some way physically resemble our opposite sex parent. But it’s even more common to find ourselves in a relationship with someone with similar character traits to one or both of our parents. Sometimes this can be beneficial. … Continue reading →

Sexual Abuse by Teachers

Teachers who take sexual liberties with students are increasingly featured in the news media. The cases that seem to attract the most attention involve oung, pretty, female teachers who seduce pubescent boys. And of course, when NBC Dateline airs one of the To Catch a Predator series, it always is very shocking to see them catch male sixth grade or high school teachers, or others who work with young people by profession. How do schools protect our children from abuse by trusted professionals? And how does this happen, anyway? In many states, teachers who have been convicted of any sex … Continue reading →

Our Children in Danger From Child Molesters

How Common is Sexual Abuse? Studies in the United States show that up to one in every three or four girls and one in every four to ten boys has been sexually abused before age 18. These numbers are most likely low since many abuse occurrences go unreported. The FBI believes that only 1-10% of cases is ever disclosed. Child molesters who victimize girls average 50 victims before being caught and those of boys average 150 victims. The average pedophile molests 117 children before being caught and incarcerated. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 are most vulnerable. The … Continue reading →