Just remember that although Michael is strange and looks weird - it doesn't mean he is an abuser. Lacking in judgement - yes; but he is still innocent until proven guilty.
Also - please remember that abuse comes in all forms. We quickly recognize abuse when we see a child with bruises from a fist and we recognize the trauma from sexual abuse too. The "sneaky" abuse though is the verbal and emotional abuse - it can take so many different forms - from calling the child "stupid" to saying simple things like "Why can't you be more like **** they're so perfect!".
You are so right DQueene. I got over most of the verbal and emotional abuse of my father many years ago, but the sexual abuse.....
It is a hard and long journey to get over any kind of abuse, and this does not mean that you will get over it or past it completely. The only true way to stop abuse is to stop the chain of abuse. In this I have failed, because I am no longer in my sons life on a regular basis, only see him a once in a while. I fear I have caused him some emotional abuse by not being there for him. In the future I WILL be in his life. Right now I must do what I have to do so that one day I can be in his life again. To put the wondering minds at rest, NO I did not sexually abuse my son. I drank and did drugs, in my opinion this was just as bad.
