Your parent has the right to instruct you and discpline you–which can include taking away priveleges or spanking you. And it is right for you to be obedient and respectful. Once in awhile they may shout at you, or even lose their temper at you. But they do not have the right to abuse you. That means they do not have the right to use excessive force, or unreasonable restrictions or cruelty to try to make you obey. Abusive behavior is wrong and it is illegal. Neither God nor fair-minded men approve of it, or will tolerate it. You deserve to be protected.

These things would be abuse: swearing at you and calling you filthy or degrading names. Shouting continuously (not just an occasional raised voice). Keeping you in a high state of fear is abusive: if you are continuously worried that you might be hit, or your other parent might be hurt, or one of your siblings, even a pet. Breaking things in your presence. Living this way week-in, week-out is exhausting to you and is too much for you to bear. That may be all you have ever known, and you may think it is normal. Or you may start to minimize and say, “It doesn’t happen that often.” You may be on a yo-yo of ‘now he’s better, now he’s worse.’

Profound neglect is also abusive. Your parents brought you into the world and it is their moral responsibility to feed you, clothe you, love you, protect you—even to want you. If you are not being fed or provided for, that is a great injustice against you. You may think, “But there are millions of kids in the world who are being neglected and abused. Why should I feel sorry for myself?” Yes, the sad truth is that abuse and neglect of children is common. But is wrong and it is a crime in every single case. All of the children deserve care and protection. The crime is not less horrifying because it is so common. It is more horrifying for its commonness!

Maybe you are a young person who is living in fear—even terror—and who is afraid to speak up. You don’t like things the way they are, but you fear that if you speak up and expose the person who is abusing you that he will become MORE angry and later punish you even more. That as bad as things are, they could and would get worse.

You are in a tough spot and you may feel trapped. The people who are supposed to protect you are not, they are hurting you. And in many cases such unhealthy families go to great lengths to hide what is going on from outsiders. Are you stuck in that crazy place? Do you long for relief but don’t dare tell a soul that you are being abused, sworn at, beaten, denied food, terrorized?

If you are living in fear and pain day after day, my young friend, there is much to gain and little to lose by TELLING SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR HOME. It is time for you to get help. You deserve to be protected and when you tell a caring person what you have been going through, we can expect them to get involved and try to stand up for you. A wise person will be able to figure out how to speak to your folks and try to get them to soften their behaviors towards you. You deserve that. You always have. You may be a nice kid born to limited or unhealthy parents. They may have lots of other stresses, or too many kids to take care of. We want to be compassionate to your parents and equally compassionate to you. Nothing justifies abusing you. Nothing. They can do better, and telling someone you trust will hopefully be the first step in getting your parents to be their best self towards you and your siblings. This is one of the basics in life and YOU DESERVE IT.



			If You Are a Child or a Teen Who is Afraid and Abused


		Your parent has the right to instruct you and discpline you–which can include taking away priveleges or spanking you. And it is right for you to be obedient and respectful. Once in awhile they may shout at you, or even lose their temper at you. But they do not have the right to abuse you. That means they do not have the right to use excessive force, or unreasonable restrictions or cruelty to try to make you obey. Abusive behavior is wrong and it is illegal. Neither God nor fair-minded men approve of it, or will tolerate it. You deserve to be protected. These things would be abuse: swearing at you and calling you filthy or degrading names. Shouting continuously (not just an occasional raised voice). Keeping you in a high state of fear is abusive: if you are continuously worried that you might be hit, or your other parent might be hurt, or one of your siblings, even a pet. Breaking things in your presence. Living this way week-in, week-out is exhausting to you and is too much for you to bear. That may be all you have ever known, and you may think it is normal. Or you may start to minimize and say, “It doesn’t happen that often.” You may be on a yo-yo of ‘now he’s better, now he’s worse.’ Profound neglect is also abusive. Your parents brought you into the world and it is their moral responsibility to feed you, clothe you, love you, protect you—even to want you. If you are not being fed or provided for, that is a great injustice against you. You may think, “But there are millions of kids in the world who are being neglected and abused. Why should I feel sorry for myself?” Yes, the sad truth is that abuse and neglect of children is common. But is wrong and it is a crime in every single case. All of the children deserve care and protection. The crime is not less horrifying because it is so common. It is more horrifying for its commonness! Maybe you are a young person who is living in fear—even terror—and who is afraid to speak up. You don’t like things the way they are, but you fear that if you speak up and expose the person who is abusing you that he will become MORE angry and later punish you even more. That as bad as things are, they could and would get worse. You are in a tough spot and you may feel trapped. The people who are supposed to protect you are not, they are hurting you. And in many cases such unhealthy families go to great lengths to hide what is going on from outsiders. Are you stuck in that crazy place? Do you long for relief but don’t dare tell a soul that you are being abused, sworn at, beaten, denied food, terrorized? If you are living in fear and pain day after day, my young friend, there is much to gain and little to lose by TELLING SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR HOME. It is time for you to get help. You deserve to be protected and when you tell a caring person what you have been going through, we can expect them to get involved and try to stand up for you. A wise person will be able to figure out how to speak to your folks and try to get them to soften their behaviors towards you. You deserve that. You always have. You may be a nice kid born to limited or unhealthy parents. They may have lots of other stresses, or too many kids to take care of. We want to be compassionate to your parents and equally compassionate to you. Nothing justifies abusing you. Nothing. They can do better, and telling someone you trust will hopefully be the first step in getting your parents to be their best self towards you and your siblings. This is one of the basics in life and YOU DESERVE IT.