Blessed Creations Hurt Too…
Children are known to be the most “Precious gifts in this world,” or “A blessing.” They are also considered to be a cherished and beautiful creation. Unfortunately all around the world, people seem to forget that children are just innocent kids and as a result lots of children are suffering from various forms abuse. Children are born in this world, not knowing what to expect or where they might end up, sadly a lot of children are born in abusive homes, or are abused in general. A child abuser is usually a person closely related to the child, such as a parent, stepparent or caretaker. The child abuser is seldom a total stranger, and the problem is the abuser is probably mentally ill, or physically. The abuser is often a normal person who is involved in frustration and stress, and since they do not know how to cope with their stress, they take their anger and frustration out on children who are younger and weaker than they are. Abusive parents may try to defend their methods of punishment, as a way of punishing a child for being "bad," or scaring them into being "good." Sometimes people who abuse children are repeating a pattern of child abuse learned when they were young, but there is no reason for children or anyone for that matter to be abused. Child abuse is difficult to locate, because of two reasons: incident of abuse is never reported, and some of the incidents that are reported, some may be false…but whether it’s false or not abuse in any form should not be permitted. When I hear the term abuse, I think of an interesting quote that I took to heart. “There are far more children brutalized than we know about.” (- Anne Cohn Bonnelly)… We don’t know how many children are brutalized but those who we know that are abused we should try and help.
The term (child abuse,) have come to include neglect of interaction (or lack of interaction) between a child and his/her parents/or other caregivers, the physical (non-accidental injury of children,) or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment, and emotional abuse. Thus, abuse can range from usually humiliating your child to not giving the necessary care, to excessively shaking a child, and rape.
There are many ways children are abused, such as neglect. There are many forms of neglect; neglect can be physical, educational, emotional, and medical. Physical neglect, accounts for the majority of cases of maltreatment.
· Physical neglect can severely impact a child's development by causing failure to thrive, malnutrition; serious illnesses; physical harm in the form of cuts, bruises and burns due to lack of supervision and a lifetime of low self-esteem.
· Educational neglect- letting a child miss school for no reason, not enrolling a child of mandatory school, and not paying attention to a special educational need.
· Emotional neglect- failure to provide affection and support necessary for the development of emotional, social, physical and intellectual well-being of a child. Withdrawal of attention, lack of praise, permitting drug or alcohol use by a child, or not providing needed psychological (mental) care.
· Medical neglect- can result in poor overall health and compounded medical problems, for it is the failure to provide appropriate health care for a child. Severe neglect of infants can result in the infant failing to grow and thrive and may even lead to infant death. If neglect continues with children the child will build-up a lot of hurt and anger inside, which could lead to psychological and social problems.
Children can also suffer from emotional Abuse.
· Emotional abuse is when parents or caregivers with hold warmth and affection. It is also verbal abuse or an uncaring attitude. When parents humiliate a child (make the child feel unworthy), lie to a child or threaten a child, inconsistent in disciplining the child, or manipulate a child. Emotional is considered a pattern of behavior that can seriously interfere with a child’s positive development, and it’s probably the least understood of all child abuse, yet it is the most common, and can be the cruelest and most destructive of all types of abuse. The physical mistreatment is another fprm of abuse that children expierence, and it sometimes can be recognized as undernourished bodies or untreated illnesses as well as unexplained bruises and broken bones. An injury may have resulted from over-discipline or physical punishment that is not right for the child’s age.
Other forms of child abuse are more subtle, though equally cruel. It is very difficult for most people to talk about sexual abuse and even more difficult for society as a whole to acknowledge that the sexual abuse of children of all ages including infants happens everyday in the United States.
· Sexual abuse is any misuse of a child for sexual pleasure or gratification. It has the potential to interfere with a child's normal, healthy development, both emotionally and physically. People believe that sexual abuse is the most under-reported form of child maltreatment because of the secrecy or "conspiracy of silence," but when a child is sexually abused they are afraid that the abuser will bring more pain to them. Often, sexually victimized children experience severe emotional disturbances from their own feelings of guilt and shame, as well as the feelings which society imposes on them. Sexual abuse is a worsening pattern for the young victims, not only is it a traumatic experience to go through, but it also has devastating affects, and it’s sad to hear and know that this is what children are going through. The children go through an excruciating and painful manner that can be considered an injury, but children in sexual activities they do not fully comprehend what they or doing, or what’s going on, so they cannot protest or object.
It is too often the case that the abused becomes the abuser, as child abuse is a cycle that begins with a child being abused and continues until the child is an adult, abusing his or her own children. The longer the abuse continues, the more serious the injuries to the child and the more difficult it is to eliminate the abusive behavior. Child physical abuse and child sexual abuse are illegal in all 50 states. Too often the crime of abuse goes unpunished, but if abuse is taking place in your family or someone you know is being abused, remember that you CAN or they can get help. Talking to someone who cares, like Child line, trained professionals can help counsel you. Reporting any incidents of child abuse in your family and community is another way you can help the risk of abuse and prevent it. With every ones help we can break the vicious cycle of abused children, and together, we can build a population of harmony! Children are known to be innocent, precious gifts in this world; and they should not have to endure any form of abuse, for no one deserves to be abused!
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