A Child's Advocate: Another Quote, which touched my heart

Monday, March 14, 2011

Another Quote, which touched my heart

I came across a quote today in an email I received. This quote seemed to reach out to me and goes along with my children have voices motif. It helped me to generate what perhaps I already knew inside me, but what I hadn't told others. I feel this is a statement that rings both serious and sad, and also humorous depending on the context. Children view what occurs in their lives as normal. Adults are here to protect them. They don't know life any other way than the way their life is going. It takes people who can and want to help, to step into a negative situation and let the child know things are different and sometimes bad things happen but they can be changed.

When I was a child, I had a alcoholic father who under the poison would abuse my mother. Cops coming over, fighting, yelling, and crying were all a part of my life that I took in as normal. I thought everyone's parents fought that way. I found it odd my friends would ask me about it. We do not have to let this and other abusive environments be normal. This quote has also given me the strength to realize I would be humbled to talk to children at school's about home violence incase they are a part of it, but just don't know it yet.

The quote is as follows,
"Often and often afterwards, the beloved Aunt would ask me why I had never told anyone how I was being treated. Children tell little more than animals, for what comes to them they accept as eternally established."

-Rudyard Kipling, British author (1865-1936)

1 comment:

AnonymousMarch 20, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Tina, I am sorry to hear about having an abusive father. This must have been very hard for you. It is unfortunate that as a child the things we see and grow up with we think is normal until we actually see normal. There are so many children out there that are growing up in abusive families and it does not have to be that way. As a guardian ad litem I see this and hope that I can make a difference for just one of those abused children.
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Personal Childhood Web

Terry- A neighbour of mine when I was a teenager. She was like a big sister in a way and treated me like my age instead of like a small child. I could confide in her and she helped me through a sticky situation when I was in high school. She taught me that although things seemed bad at the time and like there was no possible way out, that all things end eventually. That thought has helped me through some tough times in my life.
Chris- My brother. Chris joined the service when I was young, but when I'd visit him he never ceased to congratulate a grade or a new step in my life. He is someone who gives appreciation and shows admiration to everyone. He is intense to learn more about you and to help you feel better about yourself along the way. He carries my favorite trait which is sometimes hard to find- common sense. I hope I have gathered at least a handful of his knowledge and kindness along the way. His open heart and courage to do good is a constant reminder to me that there is more to people than meets the eye.
Kathy- A friend of my mother's, she was and still is someone who tells it like it is. She would never hide anything about the truth to me and she was comical in telling it. If I had a question, Kathy had a straightforward answer. Still to this day Kathy will not hesitate to give meaningful opinions and life lessons to me. I don't call her enough, but I do think of her constantly especially when life throws me a curve ball and I make some kind of joke out of it!
Louise- A friend of my mother's, she was someone I could tell things to that I was afraid to tell my mom. She would comfort me and let me know I was normal and tried to figure out ways to help me in any situation. She stayed calm and optimistic and I always admired those traits about her that I wish I could have found at home. Louise has definitely taught me to stay true to myself and not try to change to meet another's needs. She's also taught me positivity lasts longer and doesn't create as many wrinkles.
Melanie- She was a childhood friend who had a stable family life and was very intelligent. She helped me study and she helped me see past what other's thought to find out what I thought. Melanie is someone who I assume went on to become some kind of life changing scientist. She showed me dedication, and for a young child to see a peer unafraid of committment to something left a lasting impression.