first off...make sure you are safe.

physically.
is your residence safe? doors, windows, locks etc? check them...replace everything that looks vulnerable. keep the old standby handy...a louisville slugger (baseball bat) for protection...NOTHING MORE.

make a protection plan with friends...if you feel vulnerable or threatened..arrange to call someone and say a "safe" word or something to let them know you are in danger or need help now. only use it in real emergencies. have them post it in a visible spot in their homes.

tell your t.

put 911 and your police dept on your cell phone and regular phones speed dial. practice dialing in the dark.

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okay...now emotional...

i can only speak for me...i too wanted my parents acknowledge all the abuse...but my father died to early on..so i was left with the evil mother from hell. i tried and tried to get her to admit to it.

as an adult i raged at her for all the damage she caused to me...but as a child i just wanted her to love me...and make it all right. and the adult hated the child. what a viscious cycle.

the child would pull the mother closer and get sucked in to the abuse all over again...and it was worse because as an adult i was her caregiver (talk about sucky role reversal).

i think its the rold of needy kids everywhere inside all of us to want the love of our parents no matter how god awful they are. as adults we know that...as kids we don't...its just difficult to balance it out.

the best thing i can do is to try and make my child peeps calm and happy with things the way they are...both my evil parents are dead..now i'm just stuck with the equally evil brother and sister (and child peeops wanting contact with them). the grass is always greener in somelese'es yard...we want the waltons...i know my family will never be them.

be safe. be smart. protect yourself...keep everyone happy...show the littles what they have and how cool it is...even if it inolves lots of spoiling ...it's tough...but the alternative sucks.