Erika M Szabo: Author, Artist, Publisher
  • HOME
    • ART
    • PUBLISHING
    • NATURAL HEALING >
      • ASTHMA
      • BIZARRE SYMPTOMS
      • Natural Skin Care
      • Healing crystals
      • Aromatherapy
      • Pets and Fleas
      • Detox Your Body Naturally
      • HIGH CHOLESTEROL
      • Természetgyógyászat
    • Photos
    • Privacy policy
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT ME
  • BLOG
    • My Thinking Board
    • JUST FOR FUN
    • Magyar Könyvek
  • CHILDREN'S BOOKS
    • Be Careful What You Wish For
    • Pico, the Pesky Parrot
    • The Chunky, Dumpy, Spunky Monkey
    • Look, I Can Talk With My Fingers
    • A Basketful of Kittens
    • Who Stole Terry's Music Box?
    • Terry and the Number Fairy
    • My Book-My Stories
    • Me Too
    • Creepy Hollow Adventures
    • Mira, ¡puedo hablar con los dedos!
  • FICTION NOVELS
    • 7 COZY SHORTS
    • Evil Will Out
    • The Ancestors' Secrets
    • Restless Heart
    • The Ghost of Prince Akhmose
    • Messenger
    • The Potion
    • Bittersweet Memories
    • The Worthless Painting
    • Alone
    • Unbroken Curse
    • Fake It
    • OMEN
    • Rainbows and Couds
    • The Curse
  • Libros ​españoles
  • MAGAZINES
    • VIDEOS-POSTS
  • AUDIOBOOKS
  • MAGYAR OLDAL
  • STORYTIME

My Thinking Board

Thoughts about this & that...

Mommy, Uncle Frank Looks at Me Funny

2/22/2020

0 Comments

 

Children recognize the "look" of the child molester

Picture
According to statistics, in the majority of child molesting cases close family members are the perpetrators.
I still remember the "yucky" feeling I felt that a close family friend's glances gave me when I was about five years old.
I still remember the uncomfortable conversation with my mom, after uncle Frank left. I was scared and felt something that resembled shame, but when Mom sat down to watch TV, I curled up on her lap and told her, "Mommy, my stomach hurts."

Mom looked at me and probably noticed the anxious look on my face and asked, "Do you feel like throwing up, or you have a funny feeling in your tummy?"

"Uncle Frank looks at me funny. I don't like it."

​My mom shrank back a little and an angry look flashed through her face, which made me regret that I told her about my feelings. In my childish mind, I was convinced that I did something wrong that made Mom angry. But then she quickly hugged me and assured me, "I believe you, munchkin! You didn't do anything wrong. You're a very smart girl to tell me about your feelings, you can always tell me anything. Tell me how it makes you feel when he looks at you."

Gaining courage from her words, I tried to explain the sickening feeling I had when the man looked at me. I couldn't find words to explain, but in my mind I saw my cat shrinking away from the neighbor's dog that had the look in his eyes just like uncle Frank did. "Mommy, Mrs. Varga's dog looks that way at Miri every time she goes close to the fence. He wants to hurt her. Does uncle Frank want to hurt me?"

Mom hugged me tight and said, "I don't know, honey, he might. I'm so glad you told me about this." She then held my shoulders and looked into my eyes. "You can always tell me everything. You now that, don't you?"

"Yes, mommy."

"Did he ever touch you, put you on his lap, or told you that you must keep something a secret?"

"No..." I hesitated remembering the chocolate bar he gave me the day before. "But he gave me chocolate and told me it's our little secret because he knows you don't let me eat candy before dinner." I sobbed. 

"It's okay, munchkin, you did the right thing telling me this. Remember, never-ever keep a secret from daddy and me."

I didn't see uncle Frank again until I was a teenager, when he was arrested for molesting his brother's ten-year-old daughter. The girl had the courage to speak to her teacher about it because her mother had dismissed her and accused her of lying about the abuse.

That's when my dad confessed that he beat creepy Frank to a pulp and banned him from ever entering our house, that day when I told Mom about how he made me feel. Dad could never forgive himself for not going to the police back then. He always thought he could've prevented the abuse of the young girl, but also knew that without proof, and only the words of a five-year-old, the police couldn't have done anything. 

I was lucky to tell my mom about my gut feelings, and she was smart not to didn't dismiss me but inquired further.
She knew that young children can't always describe what makes them anxious or uncomfortable, but they can tell you about their gut feelings in their own way, or they find the way to play it out. Children often say their stomach hurts when they feel anxious, because they can't describe the feeling of anxiety, worry, shame, or when someone's actions make them feel uncomfortable.    
Talk to your children, and no matter what they tell you, believe them, and take them seriously.    
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Erika M Szabo, author of epic fantasy, romantic suspense, cozy mystery novels, YA and children’s books

    Categories

    All
    10 Self-publishing Tips
    About Free Books
    A Dear Friend Wrote A Poem For Me
    Alone
    Anger Addiction
    Animals Always Find Me
    A Or B?
    A Sweet Christmas Tradition
    Audiobook Recorded By Children
    Best Books For Toddlers
    Blood In The Syringe. Is It Dangerous?
    Book Promo Fees Gone Too High
    Book Review Craziness
    Can You Recognize Narcissistic People?
    Cats Love Stories Too!
    CHILDREN LEARN HATE AND INTOLERANCE FROM US
    Children's Books
    Children's Books For Halloween
    Critique Or Criticism?
    Decades Late Apology
    Did She Deserve It?
    Discrimination
    Dude
    Emotional Stages Of Becoming A Writer
    Empty Promises
    Every Life Is Precious
    Favorite Internet Pastime
    Garage Sale Surprise
    Genderless Characters In Books?
    Good Old Fashioned Romance
    Got Money? Buy Votes!
    Halloween Stories #1
    Have I Been Really Granted A Blessing?
    Hearing Loss
    Hidden Messages
    High Hopes And Deep Disappointments Of A Writer
    How Did I End Up Here?
    I'm A Better Person Today Because...
    I'm Better Than You!
    Inferior Or Equal?
    Is The Lovely Shade Of Romance Turning Dark?
    It's Easier Than You Thought
    It's Monday!
    I Would Love To Have A Shiny Sticker On My Resume!
    I Write Children's Books Because...
    Just 16 Minutes A Day
    Listen!
    Little Tree Walking
    Lucy's Baby
    Makes Sense Or Batshit Crazy?
    Mask Or Muzzle?
    MBR Bookwatch Review
    Message From A Pissed Off Reader
    #metoo
    Mommy
    Mom's Scary Dolls
    My Green Thumb
    MY SHORTS
    Nightmares And Witching Hour
    Oh No!
    Picture This!
    Prejudice
    PRESS RELEASE: AUTHOR ERIKA M SZABO
    Rainbows And Clouds
    READING IS GOOD
    Re-blogged: 5 Reasons Why Authors Should:
    Re-blogged: Full Moon Dare
    Sign Language
    Sneak Peek Into The Ancestors' Secrets
    Social Site Animals
    SPOOKY
    Stuck At Home?
    The Birth Of An Audiobook
    The Danger Of A Quiet Simile
    The Joy Of Getting Old
    The New Kind Of Book Hoarder
    The Quiet Smile Of A Wise Woman!
    There Is So Much More To Communication Than Just Speaking
    The Scammer Swallows His Own Medicine
    The Warning Signs Of Vanity Publishers
    Those Dreaded Negative Reviews
    Uncle Frank Looks At Me Funny
    Uncle Frank Looks At Me Funny 
    Unusual Signs And Symptoms
    What Is Happening To Prince Harry?
    When The Raven Calls
    Why Does Chocolate Make You Happy?
    Why Do I Tell Stories?
    Why Do People Lash Out In Anger At Others?
    Why Should I Write Book Reviews?
    Women Are Not Smart Enough
    Write A Book They Said
    You Make A Hungarian Flinch When...

    Picture
    Picture
    Historical fantasy series, book 1
    Picture
    Historical fantasy series, book 2
    Picture
    Romantic historical fiction
    Picture
    Humorous, heartwarming short story collection
    Picture
    7 novelettes in one
    Picture
    Sweet romance
    Picture
    Historical ghost story
    Picture
    Cozy supernatural mystery
    Picture
    Cozy mystery
    Picture
    Supernatural thriller
    Picture
    Futuristic romance short story
    Picture
    Unconventional family short story

    Children's books

    Picture
    Heroic fantasy for kids 6-14
    Picture
    Bilingual storybook for kids 4-12. Friendship, compassion, acceptance
    Picture
    Storybook for kids 4-10
    Picture
    Spooky adventure for kids 5-12
    Picture
    Storybook for kids 4-12. Kitten rescue, dealing with bullies
    Picture
    Storybook for kids 4-12. Compassion toward others with disability
    Picture
    Spanish edition
    Picture
    Fantasy storybook for kids 4-12. Bad elf turns good
    Picture
    Picture book for kids 2-8. Learning numbers
    Picture
    Picture book for kids 2-6. Sibling rivalry and love

    Spanish books

    Picture
    Spanish fantasy
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

Copyright author Erika M Szabo, 2012 Read the privacy policy and disclaimer HERE If you find a picture and you recognize it as your own and not a public domain photo, please let us know ​CONTACT
  • HOME
    • ART
    • PUBLISHING
    • NATURAL HEALING >
      • ASTHMA
      • BIZARRE SYMPTOMS
      • Natural Skin Care
      • Healing crystals
      • Aromatherapy
      • Pets and Fleas
      • Detox Your Body Naturally
      • HIGH CHOLESTEROL
      • Természetgyógyászat
    • Photos
    • Privacy policy
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT ME
  • BLOG
    • My Thinking Board
    • JUST FOR FUN
    • Magyar Könyvek
  • CHILDREN'S BOOKS
    • Be Careful What You Wish For
    • Pico, the Pesky Parrot
    • The Chunky, Dumpy, Spunky Monkey
    • Look, I Can Talk With My Fingers
    • A Basketful of Kittens
    • Who Stole Terry's Music Box?
    • Terry and the Number Fairy
    • My Book-My Stories
    • Me Too
    • Creepy Hollow Adventures
    • Mira, ¡puedo hablar con los dedos!
  • FICTION NOVELS
    • 7 COZY SHORTS
    • Evil Will Out
    • The Ancestors' Secrets
    • Restless Heart
    • The Ghost of Prince Akhmose
    • Messenger
    • The Potion
    • Bittersweet Memories
    • The Worthless Painting
    • Alone
    • Unbroken Curse
    • Fake It
    • OMEN
    • Rainbows and Couds
    • The Curse
  • Libros ​españoles
  • MAGAZINES
    • VIDEOS-POSTS
  • AUDIOBOOKS
  • MAGYAR OLDAL
  • STORYTIME