Child Abuse Info Page - Help The Children

It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
_{~Richard Bach}

Every day, incomprehensibly high numbers of children are physically and emotionally abused by their own care givers. But, there is help!

Please read the insightful poems below and the child abuse information that follows.

POEM: Dear Teddy

POEM: Children Live What They Learn

CHILD ABUSE INFORMATION

CHILD ABUSE STATISTICS

CHILD ABUSE RESOURCES

CHILD ABUSE WEBRINGS

MISSING CHILDREN

SITE INDEX

Dear Teddy

Teddy, I've been bad again,
My Mommy told me so;
I'm not quite sure what I did wrong,
But I thought you might know.

When I woke up this morning,
I knew that she was mad;
'Cause she was crying awful hard,
And yelling at my Dad.

I tried my best to be real good,
And do just what she said;
I cleaned my room all by myself,
I even made my bed.

But I spilled milk on my good shirt,
When she yelled at me to hurry;
And I guess she didn't hear me,
When I told her I was sorry.

'Cause she hit me awful hard, you see,
And called me funny names;
And told me I was really bad,
And I should be ashamed!

When I said, "I love you, Mommy,"
I guess she didn't understand;
'Cause she yelled at me to shut my mouth,
Or I'd get smacked again.

So I came up here to talk to you,
Please tell me what to do;
'Cause I really love my Mommy,
And I know she loves me too.

And I don't think my Mommy means
To hit me quite so hard;
I guess sometimes, grown ups forget,
How really big they are!

So, Teddy, I wish you were real,
And you weren't just a bear;
Then you could help me find a way,
To tell Mommies everywhere.

To please try hard to understand,
How sad it makes us feel;
'Cause the outside pain soon goes away,
But the inside never heals.

And if we could make them listen,
Maybe then they'd understand;
So other children just like me,
Wouldn't have to hurt again.

But for now, I guess I'll hold you tight,
And pretend the pain's not there;
I know you'd never hurt me,
So Goodnight, Teddy Bear!
~Cindy Pike Dunning

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Children Live What They Learn

If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to feel shy.

If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns patience.

If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,
he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,
he learns justice.

If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world.
~Dorothy Law Neite

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This page is presented in hopes that you will come away with a better understanding of the problem of child abuse and, in the process, gain the desire to help those who need help with this devastating problem, both the Children and the Caregivers, alike.

Each and every child born unto the world is SPECIAL and has the undeniable right to be raised in a secure, loving environment.

So how is it that so many children live in fear-filled environments, instead??

We all start out in the world as vulnerable, defenseless children, dependent on the adults in our lives for the barest essentials for survival.

And, while most children are fed and provided shelter adequate enough to survive; many children are not given the wherewithal to THRIVE!!!

Instead, many children are neglected and abused. And, as each maltreated child grows up into adulthood, they carry with them the scars of a hurtful childhood and the wrong set of tools in which to raise their own children.

As children grow, they learn fundamental life lessons from the dominant adult figures in their lives. When these adults are not using the nuturing tools of unconditional love, compassion, temperance, patience, maturity, unselfishness and understanding, the children under their care, more often than not, grow up unequipped to provide such nurturing tools to their own children.

And, this self-perpetuating cycle continues on...

What can be done?? You ask...

We all have heard others label people who neglect or abuse their own children as MONSTERS who should be locked away Forever.

The TRUTH of the matter is... Most people accused of child neglect or abuse are Good people behaving badly!!!

As previously discussed, some learn the patterns of abusive behavior in childhood; many are habitual subtance abusers; some have low frustration tolerance levels that prevent them from coping well with the demands of child raising; others have various emotional or mental disorders that, most often, can be alleviated with appropriate counseling and/or prescription medications; still others have physiological conditions such as chronic pain or bio-chemical imbalances that may cause them to lose control easily; and many direct their feelings of rage, fear and hopelessness toward those weaker than themselves, toward those who can't fight back.

Whatever the reasons for a person's abusive behavior, the BOTTOM LINE is:

In most instances, the abusers are NOT Evil Monsters but regular people who love their children and despise themselves for the way they mistreat them but are also people who lose control easily and unwittingly lash out at the most vulnerable, available people around them--the children!!!

Child maltreatment is not so much a crime as a Sickness!!! And it should be treated as such.

There is HELP!!!

As previously mentioned, abusive adults can receive help through counseling services and prescription medications. Also, there are organizations, such as Parents' Anonymous, that provide a forum in which to discuss child care-giving issues in a supportive environment. Further, having supportive family members or friends available to talk to and care for the children when care givers feel on the verge of losing control is extremely important.

The welfare of EACH AND EVERY CHILD is the Responsibility of EVERY ONE OF US!!!

If you ever witness or even suspect that a child is being neglected or abused -- GET INVOLVED!!!

Don't ever hesitate to Help a CHILD IN NEED!!!

Contact: crisis hotlines, child protective services, law enforcement agencies, schools, and churches in your area plus consider talking with responsible family members of the child/ren involved. Do whatever is Necessary to PREVENT the children from being further abused or neglected!!!

Not only will you be saving a Child, you may be saving an entire Family!!!

Early intervention is of extreme importance because the longer abuse is allowed to continue, the more set abusive patterns may become to the point that they can evolve into conditioned responses to certain stressors in abusive persons' lives.

REMEMBER: GET INVOLVED!!! The child will receive help in the process; the abusive care giver will more than likely receive help, as well.

And don't hesitate to offer your assistance to the care givers. They need help, too, but oftentimes are too ashamed or afraid to ask for it.

Remember...We ALL are affected in one way or another by neglected and abused children. Many of them grow up to perpetuate the cyle of abusive behavior with their own children who may end up marrying YOUR CHILDREN or YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. And there are always those who will lash out at society for the hurts they have endured; at which point, it does truly become everyones' problem!!!

Please, don't Blame Anyone...Rather, HELP those unable to help themselves!!!

THANK YOU for taking the time to read about this EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE and earnestly considering what you may do this very moment and in the days, months and years ahead to help stop this devastating cycle!!!

This very moment, the Children are CRYING FOR HELP!!! The Caregivers are CRYING FOR HELP, too!!!

PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN!!! THANK YOU!!!

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