When trying to understand what your child is going through, the
most important thing is to realize just how complicated it is
for children to talk about the abuse. There are many reasons
children are reluctant or unable to tell about sexual abuse.
Here are some important things to remember about a child who is
telling or attempting to tell. Kids feel confused Consider that
the child may have wanted to tell about the abuse but felt
trapped, or threatened either by what they were told would be
the consequences for telling, or by what they imagined. If you
are a parent finding out about a disclosure made by your child
to someone else, consider that the child may have been trying to
protect you by not telling you first. Recognize that a child may
feel confused or ashamed by having experienced physical
pleasure, arousal, or emotional intimacy from the abuse. This
can be one of the most difficult realities for both victims and
their supporters to understand and to come to terms with. A
child who has been abused may