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Thank you all for your support. Yes, I am a nurse. Since this child is my niece and I see her as a family member, not as a professional, I'm not sure how the law applies. If I saw this same situation while working as a nurse I would call without hesitation. Family dynamics can be very powerful and scary. We do have a close family, however, this person has been accused of various things in the past (stealing, etc.), so his reputation is tarnished. I'm baffled as to why my family is defending him now. I suppose they are afraid of all that could take place if this turns out to be true, which I sincerely believe it will.
I'm going to find the courage to call.
Thank you all for your support. Yes, I am a nurse. Since this child is my niece and I see her as a family member, not as a professional, I'm not sure how the law applies. If I saw this same situation while working as a nurse I would call without hesitation. Family dynamics can be very powerful and scary. We do have a close family, however, this person has been accused of various things in the past (stealing, etc.), so his reputation is tarnished. I'm baffled as to why my family is defending him now. I suppose they are afraid of all that could take place if this turns out to be true, which I sincerely believe it will.
I'm going to find the courage to call.
If in your professional field you had a patient like this you would call without hesitation then you owe it to the one that is a family member to do the same. Think of the courage that little girl is going to have to have to want to wake up every day for the rest of her life if she continues to be abused. Knowing that every day she could be abused again by the same person that is supposed to be caring for her. Knowing that there are others that are aware but are turning their backs on her. You have to have the courage as it is what she is depending on now to be able to live her life as normal as possible and she doesn't even know it that you could be the one to save her from a life of torment and hell. The courage she is going to need to want to live. The courage she is going to have to have to want to be close to a man later in her life that WON'T abuse her. The courage she is going to have to have as a teenager or older and finally fighting back. The courage she is going to have to have to face everyone she knows and know they all know she was abused repeatedly and did nothing. You have to call on them. One phone call is all you have to do. She has a lifetime to deal w/ the fact she was sexually abused over and over.
Family dynamics are goofy. Don't let it stop you from saving that innocent child from living a life of hell.
Write down what you have seen, heard and suspect. Give them as many specifics as you can.
Are you prepared to care for the child? Or is there a safe, secure and trusted family member who can have take care of her? More than likely CPS will remove from home. You will need to want to deal with that emotion to of being responsible for removal of child from parents.
Best interest of child far outways what family may or may not do.
Family dynamics can be very powerful and scary. ...
I'm going to find the courage to call.
This is so true, I can so relate, truly. Just do it. You'll be glad you did. And if your family is any kind of family worth having at all, they'll come around.
Have as many details as possible written down in front of you and MAKE THAT CALL. How will you live with yourself if she is being abused and you stood by and did nothing?
No. Not yet. You know now, or at least have suspicions. The girl is cooperating with you by disclosing what is happening, and you can continue to gain her confidence. You know what to watch for, you know how to combat it yourself. Ylu and your neice can stand up for yourselves on this issue, and avoid a hugely complicated situation that you will never get out of, once you get in. If things evolve in a way that continues to present an unacceptable danger, then take extreme steps if necessary. But at this stage, nothing can be done to undo the past, and you have the power to control the future.
If you are not in a position to be able to constantly monitor this, I'd suggest going directly to the perpetrator, first, let him know that you are on to him, and let him decide if he wants to continue down this road or not.
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Answer is unanimous... call!
