- A child has the right to decide who can and cannot touch any part of their body.
- A child has the right, in fact the duty, to report to a safe person any time someone attempts to touch their body inappropriately.
- A child has the right to set boundaries regarding any part of their own body.
- A child has the right to dial 911 on the phone if they think they are in any danger from someone wanting to touch their body inappropriately and ask for help NOW.
- A child has the right to be believed if they are honestly reporting any danger from someone touching or attempting to touch their body inappropriately.
- child has the right to run away or scream for help if someone approaches them in a manner that seems scary or “yucky”.
Please read these RIGHTS to your child frequently. They belong to them. Help them to understand what each one means.
Tell your child frequently:
“Your body belongs to you; you can decide who touches it.”
Copyright (c) 2011 by Marjorie McKinnon. All Rights Reserved.
I am an adult still suffering from the abuse that happened to me as a child. I have night terrors and have developed a severe case of TMJ from grinding my teeth. My mind says its over, I survived yet my mind also says be on guard always. I am searching for a group I can talk freely with, I realize it sounds absurd that when I hear other adult survivors stories I feel somewhat better, not so alone or weird. I googled for help and your website came up. I froze and almost dropped the phone. My abuse happened in a place, lamplighter village.
Hi Lisa,
My gosh! What a coincidence. Have you checked out all the help available on our website? Is there anything I can do to help? Please check to see if there is a group near you.
Then email the facilitator listed to see if they are still holding meetings via Zoom or otherwise. If they are not or if there is no chapter near you, you might take a look at the REPAIR pages on our website to see if you might be interested in working that program. You can order it through Amazon. I would also recommend joining a Codependents Anonymous 12 step meeting near you or possibly an Incest Survivor’s Anonymous group although they are harder to find. They would be listed on the Internet. Working those two together took me from being married to my 3rd abuser, suicidal and living part time in a women’s shelter to being the happiest person I know. Good luck and take care of yourself.
Margie
Founder of The Lamplighter Movement
Author of The REPAIR Your Life series