Help
Donna Mae DePola - Guest Speaker Chat ...May 25th 2013 ... for more information please read this!
There is still plenty of time and spaces if you'd like to sign up for the Guest Speaker Chat scheduled for this Saturday!
There is still plenty of time and spaces if you'd like to sign up for the Guest Speaker Chat scheduled for this Saturday!
Welcome to Pandora's Aquarium, a rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse survivor message board and chat room.
If you've been a victim of any type of sexual violence, you belong here. What you see below represents just a fraction of the resources and survivor support available. Register now to join our community and take full advantage of what this online support group has to offer you as you heal and recover, or sign in to remove this message.
You are not alone, we can support you as you heal, and you've made an important step toward recovery by reaching out. If you are unable to register or have any questions, please contact the staff or view our home page.
I was talking to my brother about my eldest's schooling. I mentioned his friends - to my pleasure (and relief) after some pretty stressful years at primary school Son1 has made good friends and has kept them for several years now. But just lately there have been a few minor falling outs - typically, mostly over girls - and Son1 had asked for my advice. I tried my best (try to be sensitive to your friends' feelings, be patient, don't take it to heart, you'll muddle through and suchlike) but it's difficult - I have no actual experience of having friends, let alone keeping them. I said so lightly (why??) and then immediately regretted it.
My brother thought it was hysterical, and basically told me I was talking crap. I don't think I've seen him laugh like that in ages. No, I said - I was the kid they laughed at. For years. Some of them would still follow me round in town, shouting abuse at me, or spit on me if they passed me in the street years after high school was over.
He still thought it was funny. How he would know through - there's a decade between us and I wasn't even living at home by the end of school. What on Earth did he imagine I'd said that for if it wasn't true? - it's hardly the sort of thing you boast about. Should I have argued the point? I don't know. Probably. Yes. Of course, I didn't - I never do, I just let it go and changed the subject, pretending that I wasn't feeling utterly humiliated, rejected,abandoned. Talk about opening old wounds - I physically felt as though I'd just been kicked in the stomach (wow, just like high school).
What is it with my family? Why are they so incapable of accepting that sometimes, bad things just happen. Do they think it would reflect badly on them - taint them by association? Why the hell can't they offer some support? Just a little would have meant so much. But no, nothing, even after all this time. Dammit why the hell is my word so unbelievable to them? My mum never took anything seriously, either - "these things happen to everyone, you're nothing special, you know". Yeah, I do know. Thanks for reminding me.
Lucky I didn't mention any of the really bad things that happened to me, huh? How hard would the laughter ring then?
My brother thought it was hysterical, and basically told me I was talking crap. I don't think I've seen him laugh like that in ages. No, I said - I was the kid they laughed at. For years. Some of them would still follow me round in town, shouting abuse at me, or spit on me if they passed me in the street years after high school was over.
He still thought it was funny. How he would know through - there's a decade between us and I wasn't even living at home by the end of school. What on Earth did he imagine I'd said that for if it wasn't true? - it's hardly the sort of thing you boast about. Should I have argued the point? I don't know. Probably. Yes. Of course, I didn't - I never do, I just let it go and changed the subject, pretending that I wasn't feeling utterly humiliated, rejected,abandoned. Talk about opening old wounds - I physically felt as though I'd just been kicked in the stomach (wow, just like high school).
What is it with my family? Why are they so incapable of accepting that sometimes, bad things just happen. Do they think it would reflect badly on them - taint them by association? Why the hell can't they offer some support? Just a little would have meant so much. But no, nothing, even after all this time. Dammit why the hell is my word so unbelievable to them? My mum never took anything seriously, either - "these things happen to everyone, you're nothing special, you know". Yeah, I do know. Thanks for reminding me.
Lucky I didn't mention any of the really bad things that happened to me, huh? How hard would the laughter ring then?
Share This Entry:
3 Comments On This Entry
Page 1 of 1
How horrible.
Can you have a stock answer for him? I don't like it when you laugh at my experience. I know what I experienced and it was not good for me.
My heart burns at the lack of respect your family shows you. I'm so sorry.
Susanna, yes that sounds like a great idea, I'm still irked - amongst everything else - at my reaction. I guess preparation is the key. And staying calm. Inside I'm still screaming.