Comment by Vanessa on 05 Apr 2010 at 3:40 pm

With such grace and sophistication how do you suppose your survival’s impact has on children who are abused? Children must not read your story due to the adult nature written so how do you reach the children? I found you inspirational and am impressed with your ability to share. Thank you for sharing your time! Thank you, Richard Baer, for providing your time to care for Karen. Blessings.

Dear Vanessa,

It’s my hope that young children will not read my story. It’s not a story children can comprehend. My story is told to encourage hope through sharing and bringing knowledge to adults, parents, relatives, friends, school teachers, neighbors, doctors, care givers and all those who ever come into contact with a child who shows the tell-tale signs of being mistreated. There are signs if we know what to watch for. That’s our hope for “Switching Time,” for my story to help provide knowledge.

No one paid attention to the signs of my being an abused child, and signs were most certainly present. I believe back in the sixties and seventies no one knew what to do and were afraid to speak about such things. In recent years, more than a dozen adults from my past have come forward to apologize for NOT doing anything when they suspected something was happening to me. Although there were a few I shared with, they never helped me and ignored my pain. I always felt alone. I pray no child ever experiences what I once endured. With Dr. Baer, I was fortunate to fall into the right hands and receive help. Not enough victims do. 

Please know that it’s never too late to make a difference. Never falsely accuse, but pay attention, be cautious, and help keep all of our children safe. Tell your child they can openly share anything with you, that they need not be afraid. I never knew that what happened to me was abuse because I was groomed to regard my abuse as normal from early on. I wish one adult would’ve stepped up to help me. Sadly, not one did.

Thank you for your compliments! I will pass them on to Dr. Baer, too! 

Karen