Yes. Generally, one can't help another unless s/he is in good shape emotionally and mentally. This group is a great deal of help, there could be youths here!

So many victims of abusers need intervention in their lives - they need someone to rescue them from their circumstances.

I feel exactly the way you stated it, Beaumont. It breaks my heart sometimes thinking about it.

Yes, this kills me. I have actually thought about being an advocate....or I would possibly like to be.....but I don't know if I can stomach it.

I often look back at my situation and realize that there was nothing anyone could have done for us as kids. They knew.....and said nothing.....because they were afraid. Now my Dad is alone......and I can only wonder what all those who said nothing must be thinking.

I still remember Vicky, the girl in my fifth-grade class. She wore the same dirty dress to school every day and no one at school would talk to her. She had bruises on her face. We were both from abusive families, only we didn't know it and we were children who didn't know how to tell anyone what was happening in our homes. Wherever you are now, Vicky, I hope life worked out better for you and that you found some joy in it despite your rough upbringing.

Although I'm totally messed up inside I would report & support any child I thought was being abused. It's an adults responsibility to sort out an adult crime, not a child. I have reported too several times. It's not our job to fix and mend but every adult should be able to report even anomously other wise how's it ever gonna end?

"It's an adults responsibility to sort out an adult crime, not a child"

i agree yet they expect the child to fix the adult crime had that thrown in my face before.

Yes they do expect the child to fix the adult crime and its not right at all. I don't know where u are but in England the system is the lowest of the low in my opinion.
I have had far too much experience of the system and they completely leave you high and dry and cause more harm than good. But that's another story
However I still believe its a. Adults responsibility just because this doesn't always happen it dosnt change my belief that it should be an Adults responsibility.

My dear sweet grandson is being abused by his father. I have reported him but nothing ever gets done. CPS told me that I have no proof. Its sad that even the court would not listen to me. All I can do is pray for my grandson and all the other children that are being abused.

"Yes they do expect the child to fix the adult crime and its not right at all."

true, ive beent old i need to fix the issues with my parents when i was a kid

I live in a very low income community. I think there are children that are not being treated like they should be. As an result of this, I started a free arts and crafts program .They know I am there for them, even if it's just to talk. No, I can't ''save the world'', or all the neglected, and abused children in it. However, I am doing what I can in my own way.

No one reported my dad even when he was beating my teen-age sister all over in the front yard. What I learned is no one wanted to tangle with such a maniacal man. They were as afraid of him as we were.

What I do remember are the "lighthouse" people that came into my life who showed me just what I needed. A neighbor, an older couple who befriended dad and became his surrogate "parents," the wife of dad's drinking pal who was extra nice and took me under her wing in my 6th grade year, even though Dad talked down to her like he did to all women. And the mom and pop store clerks who were funny, personable, and followed my progress as I grew into womanhood. To them I salute! Even though they probably don't think they did that much. But they did. They gave me hope that someday I would find a "normal sense of stability" like they had.