S2E12 -Child Sexual Abuse: Elizabeth

#StillHere: A Survivor Podcast

Episode Notes

Child Sex abuse: Elizabeth

Whitney learned about Elizabeth on the Elizabeth Smart Instagram page. I reached out to her and asked if I could share her story and she agreed. You can see her post on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CWraghANp2-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Elizabeth volunteers with Darkness to Light, and teaches classes to help educate parents on how to protect their children from being abused and how to recognize the signs of abuse. You can access the website of this organization here: https://www.d2l.org/ If you would like to request the Sargent Bark Coloring books, please email [e-mail] elizabethsmartfoundation "At the age of 3, my innocence was stolen. This is my first memory and continued until I was 12-years-old. But like most survivors, I was again sexually assaulted - this time at the age of 17. But even more difficult, is being the mom of a survivor. I tell you this only with my teenager's permission and blessing. For me, there was nothing worse than feeling like I had failed my child. As a parent, I never thought this would happen to us. As my son went through the healing process, he first went through shame, anger, fear, and depression. At the age of 5, my baby told me his suicide plan. As we worked through this together, I learned how to help him heal, and learned that I also had to do the same for myself. Since then, my family has made it their mission to educate other parents on child sexual abuse prevention by partnering with Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children's child sexual abuse prevention training, and I created the Sgt. BARK Body Boundaries coloring books to help parents have a conversation with their children about healthy body boundaries on an age-appropriate level. While most adults would never hurt a child, the shocking truth is that 97% of child sexual abuse cases that are reported and investigated are proven to be accurate. But most children are not believed. As a mom, I believe one of the most important things I can teach my son is to not feel shame for what was done to him and to know that we have the power to take back control of our lives. I have taught him that we are more than a statistic and to know that this will never take away his self-worth. To other parents, I ask you to consider taking the prevention class. It's the most important two hours of your life. And talk to your child about healthy body boundaries. If someone has the courage to tell you what has happened to them, the most important thing you can say next is, 'I believe you.'" —Elizabeth Peace @elizabeth.j.peace Thank you to Elizabeth and her son for allowing us to share their stories. #WeBelieveYou Instagram

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This episode was recorded at Rocket Skates Recording with the amazing Nate Brown. Please visit www.rocketskatesrecording.com for more info.

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