There Is No Excuse For Child Abuse

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Child Abuse Is One Of Most Harmful Crimes One Can Commit

I was watching the television the other day, and I ended up crying for about a half an hour. I was watching a show about child abuse and child predators, and my heart was broken. I could not believe that there were people like that out there in the world, and I couldn’t imagine why they would want to hurt children like they do. The sexual predators got to me the most, but the overwhelming number of people who commit child abuse was hard to swallow. You almost expect there are a few out there, but you just cringe over the huge number of those who purposely hurt children. There are so many that you can bet many live nearby.

Child abuse is something that happens in a lot more homes than you might think. Though a child might seem normal on the outside, there might be clues that lead you to believe that there is child abuse going on. However, you should be careful about turning people in on a hunch only. Some children naturally are shy or withdrawn and it might not mean that there is child abuse going on. On the other hand, if you witness what you would consider to be abuse you should not hesitate to turn someone in. The child is counting on your to say what they cannot.

The problem with proving child abuse is a tough one though. Someone accused a babysitter of mind of child abuse. In the end, they could not charge her with anything because there were no bruises. I was abused myself when I was a child so it was a double nightmare to me. I know better than anyone that not all child abuse leaves bruises you can see. Emotional child abuse can be just as damaging as physical, but it’s almost impossible to prove.

Another problem is spouses that are separating often accuse each other of child abuse in an effort to swing the custody hearings in their favor. I don’t care how much you hate each other; this should never, ever be done. False charges of child abuse can be just as damage to a child as real abuse. In a way it is also abuse. This should never happen to anyone, and it can mess up lives rather quickly. If you are going to report abuse, only do so if the abuse is real, but don’t wait until it is too late.

Sadly enough, one in every three girls will experience sexual abuse before the age of eighteen. One in every six boys will experience the same traumatic event. What’s even sadder is that 75% of those victims of sexual child abuse will not be reported. Those children who become victims of child abuse will forever be affected by the events that cannot be erased. The child abusers may never even be punished or feel that they did anything wrong. Little do they know that they have stolen something that is ever so precious to a child – their youth and innocence.

There is no excuse for child abuse. Every parent has moments in which they feel more frustrated and angry than ever before. However, not all of them will lash out with physical violence. The voice of reason takes over before a certain line is crossed. Those who don’t think before they act may become the child abusers even though they had no intentions. Most people don’t wake up in the mornings and start their days off wondering how many children they can hurt that today. The majority of child abuse first occurs because someone loses control of their emotions and actions. After they get away with it once, it could end up becoming a never-ending pattern. Most victims of child abuse will never reach out for help. If it is sexual child abuse that it ongoing, even fewer victims will speak up. Most victims feel that somehow it will be their fault. They fear what the repercussions will be if they do come forward with accusations. Nearly 2/3 of all victims of sexual abuse outside of the house will not come forward to tell their parents. That means that there are quite a few predators walking around free because they got away with their crime.

Child abuse has to be one of the most harmful crimes that a person can commit. Yet, society tends to sweep the child abuse problem under the rug until something drastic happens to reveal the problem. Suddenly, if something terrible happens and makes headlines, society is completely tuned into the specific case. For a while after that, everyone may be supportive of the victim or the families. Once that passes, people will resume their normal lives forgetting about how much of a problem child abuse is. This is why child abuse is one of the most unreported crimes in our country. All to often, people turn the other cheek.

If no one is looking out for our children, no one ever will. It is time that we stand up and take notice. Don’t ignore the signs anymore. If our children will be the future, we need to make sure that they are raised in healthy and loving homes. Child abuse can shatter all of that in one single moment.