Child Sexual Abuse can happen ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, TO ANY CHILD!
1 out of 5 Boys will be Sexually Abused by their 18th birthday. [According to MASA - Mothers Against Sexual Abuse @ www.againstsexualabuse.org]
You may be thinking...“This could never happen to my child”. Unfortunately & as statistics show, Child Sexual Abuse does happen & it happens often to countless numbers of children...the most innocent and helpless of victims. I urge you to think about this… these “statistics” are made up of real children of all ages. As a Parent, I offer this advice...
Sexual Predators know how to silence children. The truth is… Child Sexual Abuse is REAL. And as a Parent, your understanding of this horrific crime is imperative for your child’s safety.
1 out of 3 Girls will be Sexually Abused by their 18th birthday. [According to MASA - Mothers Against Sexual Abuse @ www.againstsexualabuse.org]
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Who are these Sexual Predators of children?
What does a Sexual Predator look like?
What are the signs & symptoms of the abused child?
Why will most children never tell anyone they are being molested and/or raped?
What systems are in place legally to protect children?
Do these “systems” work?
What to do if your child discloses sexual abuse.
As Parents, we talk to our children about the importance of education, and the dangers of drugs & alcohol… just to name a few. We even tell our little ones that no one should ever touch their “private parts”. We like to think that if anyone did touch them, they would tell us. After all, most younger children cannot keep a secret, right? In addition, we teach our children to “never talk to strangers”.
The problem with stopping there is that “95% of children who are Sexually Abused know their attacker”. These Sexual Predators are not strangers in most cases. I fear and am certain that by not talking to children specifically about Sexual Abuse, Parents may be unknowingly enabling their child to be “easier prey” for many Sexual Predators. You cannot protect your child from Sexual Abuse without talking to them about Incest, Molestation & Rape; at the appropriate age level of course. Children need to know the dangers out there. They need to know that if this happens or is happening to them that they can come to you. They need to know that no matter who may be doing this to them, that you will believe them. They need to feel safe to “tell” on their Abuser.
I want to stress that most children are sexually abused & silenced by someone they know and far too many are abused by someone they love. A child is generally very trusting of those in authority over them. This in turn makes a child the most vulnerable of all victims. The younger the child, the more trusting. Abused children of all ages do keep this secret in most cases. Please understand this.
The more Parents who are aware of the reality & possibility of Child Sexual Abuse and the more children who know about the dangers, the safer our children will be...all children. It’s time we send a message to those who prey on innocent children by…
This book covers the disturbing issues of incest and child sexual abuse, the greatest hidden epidemic in America. Readers will get information on recognizing the signs and symptoms and what to do if you learn your child has been sexually abused. Understanding the quagmire of the judicial system is covered with solid step-by-step advice. The book explains the difference in family, juvenile and criminal courts; social service agencies, and the guardian-ad-litem, and it prepares families that may find themselves in this complicated and often confusing arena. The sections about child molesters arms parents with knowledge to protect their children. The book offers advice for adult survivors of sexual abuse to help them reclaim their lives and move forward. This book is a tremendous resource for parents, legal and psychological professionals, and all adults who are concerned about the health and safety of our children.
Childhood Should Not Hurt is a true gift for those of us marked forever by the devastating stain of childhood sexual abuse. This book focuses on a dark and ugly secret which the world still refuses to face, that is the frequency of child sexual abuse. Studies show that incest alone affects 100,000 children each year. Even though the Equal Rights Movement of the 1980's brought attention to human rights issues including child abuse, the American legal system through its Family Reunification Mandate (1985) continues to victimize our most precious and silent citizens, our children. Claire Reeves, founder of Mothers Against Sexual Abuse, has packed her well-written book with facts and case studies. It is a must read as it boldly confronts the American court's failure to protect our children from abuse. It teaches how to recognize signs and symptoms of abuse and how to find help. Thanks to Claire Reeves for helping to bring hope to survivors of sexual abuse. -- Donna L. Friess
1 out of 5 Boys will be Sexually Abused by their 18th birthday. [According to MASA - Mothers Against Sexual Abuse @ 
1 out of 3 Girls will be Sexually Abused by their 18th birthday. [According to MASA - Mothers Against Sexual Abuse @ 
The problem with stopping there is that “95% of children who are Sexually Abused know their attacker”. These Sexual Predators are not strangers in most cases. I fear and am certain that by not talking to children specifically about Sexual Abuse, Parents may be unknowingly enabling their child to be “easier prey” for many Sexual Predators. You cannot protect your child from Sexual Abuse without talking to them about Incest, Molestation & Rape; at the appropriate age level of course. Children need to know the dangers out there. They need to know that if this happens or is happening to them that they can come to you. They need to know that no matter who may be doing this to them, that you will believe them. They need to feel safe to “tell” on their Abuser. 
The more Parents who are aware of the reality & possibility of Child Sexual Abuse and the more children who know about the dangers, the safer our children will be...all children. It’s time we send a message to those who prey on innocent children by…
This book covers the disturbing issues of incest and child sexual abuse, the greatest hidden epidemic in America. Readers will get information on recognizing the signs and symptoms and what to do if you learn your child has been sexually abused. Understanding the quagmire of the judicial system is covered with solid step-by-step advice. The book explains the difference in family, juvenile and criminal courts; social service agencies, and the guardian-ad-litem, and it prepares families that may find themselves in this complicated and often confusing arena. The sections about child molesters arms parents with knowledge to protect their children. The book offers advice for adult survivors of sexual abuse to help them reclaim their lives and move forward. This book is a tremendous resource for parents, legal and psychological professionals, and all adults who are concerned about the health and safety of our children. 
