Wow! thanks for sharing your experiences with me kd. It is so nice to be able to talk to someone who can relate! I live in a "safe" world as far as abuse goes. Ufortunately, I do not have the support system at home to delve into this frightful situation yet. Your right though, I had to make the "little girl" go away. She cried too much and it scared my children and my husband. My "biological" family will have nothing to do with me because I told their "dirty little secret" and I got a restraining order against my step-father. I come from a very small town and I have ruined his family name.(like I care..bastard!) But I do miss my Mom and my sisters and brother. I don't understand how my mother could stay with a man who raped two of her children. And then she chose him over us! Unfortunately my siblings remain loyal to their mother. My youngest child is now a senior in high school, and after he graduates, I have MAJOR changes to make in my life. Just knowing that I have a support group here will make it easier to take that GIANT LEAP into the "others" world. THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!