Parents Whose children have been sexually abused Community Group
This group is for parents whose children have been sexually abused. We welcome both Mothers and Fathers. Here, we can offer support to one another. We can vent, cry and lift each other up. No condemning or criticizing allowed. We are here for support. We LOVE (((HUGS))) !
What to make of this?!
This happened a couple of days ago. It upset me so much and took me right back to disclosures. Same sick feeling in my stomach. Same fear and dread feeling. And sadness. Such sadness. Without telling my entire story over, I am still living with my husband who my children both made disclosures (1 each) about and whom I called DHS on a little more than a year and a half ago. Case was open and closed because my children didn't reveal anything in forensic interviews. I took both children to counseling for a year, but nothing came out there. I have stayed in relasionship because I beleive if I get a divorce, my husband will get partial custody. I can almost guarantee he would, which terrifies me and I will stay so that my children are SAFE. I don't believe anything has happened since disclosures (I haven't given him the opportunity) and IF anything happened in the first place, I don't believe it happened often, which I'm not sure matters. Anyway, back to the other day. I have been helping my mother at her house every week for a couple of hours for the past 5 weeks. She has two large dogs. The time before last time, I noticed my son beckoning one of her dogs to go with him. I thought it was sweet that he wanted to play with the dog. After about 5 minutes, I went to check on son and he was in a back bedroom with dog and he was messing with his shorts. As if they had been down. I asked what he was doing and he said just playing and I asked if his shorts were down and he said that he was checking to see if he pooped / I didn't think much of it. Just kind of made me go hmmmmmm. Now this week when I went to help my mother, he beckons the same dog to follow him. This time, I waited a couple of minutes and very quietly opened door to backyard where he was in the corner of the yard pulling his pants up. I KNOW that he was having the dog lick his penis. I very calmly asked what he was doing with his pants downs and he said once more that he was checking to see if he pooped his pants. I told him that I knew this wasn't true and that I saw what he was doing and asked why he had done this. Asked if anyone had ever done this to him. He denied, denied, denied. I told him that this was wrong to do and that he is never to do this again. Believe me, I will never leave him alone with another dog again. :-( Luckily, we don't have one. I do not know what to think about this!! I am so freaked out. I don't think this is normal. He hasn't been to my mom's often. And not without me. He doesn't go to friends houses. They (the few he has) come here. It's not like he's been anywhere and learned this or seen this there. So either he was peeing outside at my mother's (which is possible) while playing and dog happened to lick his penis and he discovered it felt good and repeated it, or he learned this somewhere. I am not sure what to do about this either. It makes me scared that he will be sexually deviant with other kids someday?! I hesitate to tell his father, for a number of reasons. I don't know what to make of this or what to do about it!!! My little boy is SO sweet and has never shown any sexual gratification or innapropriate behaviors (besides a bit of playing with penis in bath - but not excessivly) The only other thing since disclosure that has been of concern that I've witnessed, was about 2 months after disclosure, he undressed a GIJo he had and was kissing his privates and whispering something to him, but quickly stopped when he realized I was watching. That's it. I am so scared for my little boy. And unsure how to proceed. Please help!!!
I don't know anything about raising boys or what to expect. I hear that some "stuff" is normal, but what you describe matches what's listed here:
http://www.mosac.net/page/186
It will definitely be worth your time to discuss your observations with your son. He MUST know that you are looking out for his well-being (more than he may ever know) and that what you saw is an indication that he is confused, unhappy and needs guidance. Here are some guidelines for what to say (and what not to say):
http://www.mosac.net/page/295
It sounds as if it's definitely time for some counseling. I don't know how you will manage this without his father being aware, and there's no way to do this without the therapist calling child protective services.
Have your son draw what he was feeling when he was spending time with the dog BEFORE CPS gets involved again. That way, in case he refuses to share again, you have concrete evidence that Something took place. I know this is scary BUT it might be the answer you were hoping for! Don't put words in his mouth either...like urinating or licking. Just ask him to draw what he and the dog were doing and how it felt. Maybe even why he went into the back bedroom? But, like the other ladies stated, BE CALM and don't react to anything if you can.
I know when my daughter disclosed things to me I had to perfect my poker face while experiencing the feeling of being punched in the gut. Good luck to you and I pray you are able to continually protect your children.