The
Deputy CEO where I work sent a note advising us April is National ChildAbuse Awareness Month. This topic is near and dear to me for many reasons. Just
like thousands of others, my family “has” issues. As an adult, I can cope
better with them, but family will always be family.
I
looked for some online information and amid the volume of information, one
particular web site, the American Humane
Association, reminded me of my first negative Montgomery County experience.
Their page entitled “Stop Child Abuse” lists three situations one may encounter. The second one is
“At the grocery store, you see a
parent strike a child having a tantrum.”
I
flashed back to the now closed F&M
Distributors on Rockville Pike. An Hispanic male was pushing his son around
in a cart talking quietly. For no sane
reason, he pulled the boy’s hair hard enough to make him cry! Then, the father proceeded
to make a big deal about getting the kid to “shut up.”
Keep
in mind that abuse can also be verbal.
In Williamsburg, this jerk was telling his young son he was stupid, etc. Words cannot
describe the hurt look in his son’s eyes – he was too young to understand
exactly what his dad was saying but old enough to know his father was putting
him down.
Folks,
these are two examples of how the cycle of abuse starts! Here is some
information on getting help and giving help:
For help with reporting child abuse and neglect or to speak with a counselor, contact Childhelp® at 800-422-4453.
Sources: American Humane Association
