too scary to touch? I WAS that 13 year old girl.

[helderheid]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4198342#4205239

[lvx35]

1. Its pretty wide spread...and it screws girls up a lot.

A suprising amount of people I've dated long term were molested or had rape-like teen experiences. None of them reported it. Its really epidemic. I don't know what you do about something like that...but it really screws people up.

[helderheid]

2. just acknowledging this makes a world of difference.

[lvx35]

4. I agree, but shame was a huge factor for these girls.

I've heard a lot of them describe a wierd "blame" reaction from their parents, so they just held it in. Its a really complex issue, sadly.

[helderheid]

5. I want to break down for just having someone know how heartwrenching this

all is.

THANK YOU

[lvx35]

8. :) I'm glad you see you are not alone!

Yeah, you are definatly NOT alone. Many people have suffered through this thinking that they are were alone, but you're not. Always remember that.

PEace :)

[helderheid]

9. thank you - I am revisiting a painful place with this. I appreciate you.

[BlueIris]

3. Kick. Some ignorant folks on this board need the perspective.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Thank you !!

I am hoping they also charge this little girl's mother for failing to report her child was raped.

[helderheid]

7. I am speechless about that

[lvx35]

10. Kick. Thinking about this and people really should be talking about it. nt

[helderheid]

11. thank you

I am very concerned about the abuse that looks like experimentation like I had - it really messed me up for so long.

[helderheid]

12. thanks for letting me get personal

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4198342#4205239

[helderheid]

13. this sucks

[lvx35]

15. What sucks?

[helderheid]

14. /

[BlueIris]

16. And again.

Think, people.

[REP]

17. We Don't Let 13 Year Olds Enter Into Legal Contracts

The child in the news story may think she is competent to consent to sex and marriage, but she isn't. No child that age is. If we don't let children that age have phone service in their own name, why on earth are we allowing them to enter into a contract like marriage? Aside from the psychological ramifications of basically being a sex toy for a damaged man, getting out of a marriage is hard enough for an adut woman - how is this child ever going to be able to get free?

HH, I wasn't nearly as young as you were but I could tell a similar story. Because I was older, the damage done to me was far less. I do remember when I turned the age my ex was when he met me I realized that there was something very wrong with someone to be interested in someone so much younger, so I kicked him out. Couldn't get those nine years back, though.

[Modem Butterfly]

18. If a man nearly twice my age had gotten me pregnant at 13...

...the only question for my parents would be whether to use the shotgun on just beat the guy to death with a baseball bat.

What kind of old testament shit is it to force a 13 year old to marry her molester?

[cmd]

19. Hugs to you helderheid

I'm so sorry your childhood was taken from you. This has been ignored far too often. Anytime you want to cry, I'll be around to hold your hand and listen.

[H2O Man]

20. As a society

we fail our children.Not all of them, of course, but when we read these types of stories, then we know that too many are failed. What went on in this girl's parents' heads? We could only speculate. But there are other things that we can safely say we know: that we don't talk enough about these issues, because they make us feel uncomfortable. And that as much as we must respect the parent-child relationship, there are times when a community is obligated to intervene. Most of all, we know -- from reading this thread, if we didn't already -- that those children who are violated need people to acknowledge them as worthwhile human beings, not as a topic that we would rather ignore.

Helderheid, you are a brave person. Thank you.

[Solly Mack]

21. I'm so sorry this happened to you

I wish people understood that it happens more than they imagine. That it DOES harm the child - for the child IS a victim of a predator.

You're very brave!!!!!