Episode 10- Why She Didn’t Protect Us

'Trigger Warning' if you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse please remember the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre 24-Hour Helpline 1800 77 8888

In today’s podcast we will be discussing Mothers, and in particular, the differences in our individual relationships with our mother. We are aware that our experience may not reflect other victims of abuse, but we hope that by sharing our story, we can encourage open discussions around mothers, their roles and societies totally unrealistic expectations of women in general.

Our relationship with our father who controlled our home and everyone in it, was in some ways clearer to explore than our relationship with our mother.

As with all things to do with childhood sexual abuse, nothing is black and white and the complexities of growing up with a non-abusing parent can be just as difficult to understand and equally painful to explore.

We talk about just how the need to survive and the methods we each used often made it next to impossible to make any real connections to our mother who herself was shut down and locked into her own hell.

We hope that sharing our experience will help you understand the importance of examining your family relationships as there are benefits to understanding how each member of a family is impacted by the abuser.  

 It is important to be kind to yourself and acknowledge you have a right to feel anger and resentment for not receiving the nurturing you needed and longed for as a child. Give yourself time to grieve for that loss and acknowledge just how resilient you are to have survived, in spite of all the obstacles you faced.

 Please share and spread the word……

 Take care

Joyce, June and Paula