Violence at home

Physical abuse suffered by children

     Home is a place where each person feels secure. A place where one feels the warmth of love from his/her family members. Or in other words, a heaven. But what happens, when this same heaven turns into a living hell?? When the same caregivers turn into cruel tormentors?? What happens when the mother who is supposed to be the one who loves you unconditionally, turns into a serious alcoholic and to meet her needs, sells you for some bucks?? When your father, whom you always look upto, the person who is supposed to protect you all the time, the person whom you trust infinitely, sexually assaults?? These are some of the harsh truths and issues, which need to be addressed and talked about. 

     Everyday we read innumerable stories, where many girls and boys as young as 3 and 4-year-old are beaten and raped brutally by their own family members or extended family members like cousins, uncles or aunts.Many have committed suicide, many ran away and feel into wrong hands, and many died as result of this torture.

     Most of the times, children are forced to keep their mouths shut because they are threatened with death or similar punishment. They are made to feel that, they are responsible for what ever is happening with them and so they are afraid that they will be ashamed in front of everyone if the news leaks out. Children are forced to stay with their tormentors as they have nowhere to go and also they are unaware of their rights and help lines. Most of the times, children are rescued when the neighbors become suspicious or they run away and by sheer chance of luck, they reach the right persons. Today, the stress-levels are skyrocketing and this is affecting the sanity of working people and since children are the easiest way to take out one’s frustrations, it results in physical violence.

I would like to share a poem which is written by a girl, who was sexually assaulted by her own father after he became widower. He felt that, she was responsible for his wife’s death and that was his way of punishing her. This poem pulled my heart-strings.

I TRUSTED YOU

I hear the floor creak

Closer and closer toward my bedroom door

I try to stay quiet hiding under the covers

Though I know he will find me

I hope, he doesn't hear my heart beat,

Or hear me praying God will protect me tonight,

But as I do, I start crying because I know,

Tonight is one of those nights,

When God just doesn't hear me,

I let one more sob

And the door swings open,

The hallway light shines in

But darkness radiates off him,

So strong

He has a smile on his face

Nothing will stop him,

I can’t even defend myself,

He gets on top of me holding me down,

As I try to turn away

He pulls me to back covering my mouth

I am too scared to breathe

A few weeks pass by,

I hear him moaning my name

While stumbling around the house

Closer and closer he is walking toward me

Now he is on my bed

And before he even touches me

I begin to cry as I wonder

Where is God tonight

This time I fight back,

I yell,

I cry

But he has ways to shut me up.

I do everything I can to loosen his grip

He is hurting me so bad but will not let me go

NO

He will not let me go

Not until he is finished,

He leaves me lying there,

To think of what I have lost,

“I am sorry” is not enough,

He doesn't even realize what it has cost

Another few weeks pass by

The shame keeps getting worse 

Too afraid to tell

Though it’s so hard to hide this pain,

Day after day,

I must have been bad that night,

I hear him coming closer as I am lying on the floor,

Lord, I would do anything

If you would keep him from walking through that door,

But he does,

I finally realize I am really alone,

No one to protect me,

No one to stop what is happening to me,

No one to stop him,

No one to love me,

No one to cherish me,

No one to save me,

So I lie back down to take it,

But he throws me on the bed

And makes me relive my worst fears,

When I just want to be dead,

I don’t want to kill myself,

I just want to die,

God, why have you abandoned me??

Can you not see the tears I shed??

Are you really there in heaven??

Why can’t you help me??

Why can’t you send your guardian angels to save me??

I will hurt myself later,

After you have hurt me,

This blood that stains the sheets,

Tangled up on my bed,

Reminds me of the words

The images you have put inside my little hed.

I can still feel you touching me, grabbing me,

Forcing my body closer to yours,

The feeling of your cold fingers all over me,

I constantly try to wash away

From my scarred skin,

Since that first night,

I live my life in fear,

You are the reason, I love too easily,

Why I cannot love at all

Because I trusted you

I can no longer trust,

The pain I hold inside

You will never know

They will never understand

That my scars don’t even begin to show….

     Didn't this poem touch your hearts?? The pain, trauma and fear that girl went through is true in all the physically abused children. Many times what happens is, they think it is normal, but when they attend sex education classes in their schools, they realize, what ever is happening with them is absolutely wrong. Young, tender minds are damaged for ever, the physical wounds heals but the wounds in one’s heart and minds takes forever to heal. 

     The need of hour is more awareness among kids. They need to be educated about what is right and wrong.  Schools are the best places to give this training. Laws ahould be made more stringent and strict, so that justice is given to victims. People should be sensitized about this major issue. All these steps will go a long way to solve this problem……