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Old Mar 06, 2012, 10:55 AM
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Open Eyes Open Eyes is offline
Legendary Wise Elder
 
Member Since: Mar 2011
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 23,289
(((((hairstory))))))

It is very normal to not remember all of what happened in events like this experienced at a young age. At 7 and 8 years old children don't know enough to say no and they don't really understand what sex really means either. Sometimes children get involved with this because they normally are prone to explore their bodies and sometimes when they discover something can feel good they may want to see if other children can feel this too. If you take away the fact that this is a sexual act as you know it now and just observe children at play interacting, you will see that when any child sees something different etc. they will naturally draw other children to whatever it happens to be. And also older children seem to know they can take advantage, that is in no way your fault either.

I had very similar experiences, and even at a surprisingly young age as well. And when I started recalling these memories with what I know now about sex and what it means, I was very disturbed and didn't know what to think about it. Like you, I had some memories and blank spaces too. But I do remember how much I didn't like it as well. And for me it was both my older siblings and I was very young and could not understand it.

In therapy I didn't really just go right my experiences. I talked about the topic first and how this can happen to children and what it means. My therapist talked to me about how many children normally find all of themselves, recognize that something feels good somehow and often wonder if other children also have this ability. Unfortunately many parents don't talk to children about this, warn them that this can happen and what it means. So often children can get exposed to this not understanding what it means but somehow knowing enough to hide it as well. And in your case that older child somehow knew you would not truely understand it as well.

It is very important for you to understand hairstory that you really didn't understand this at that age, not the way you understand it today. In that you have to make sure that you do not allow yourself to have guilt about it with what your knowledge is today. Yes, there is a very big challenge in addressing these memories and it is very important that you truely don't blame yourself and keep forcing yourself to wonder why you don't remember everything, because at that age probably all you wanted was it to be over with and you do remember that you didn't like it either. And also remember that children that age do not know how to tell a parent that this happened or is happening, they don't really know how to describe it and often are frightened that the parent will get really mad at them and blame them somehow.

It is important that you find a resolve to these memories and be very kind to yourself about these memories. I will tell you that this does happen to many and often these people just don't talk about it. I knew enough to talk to my young daughter about this and warn her about not letting other children touch her and try to show her their private parts. Because I did that she did know to say no and she was approached by other children who were curious or even were being touched by other children. And she came to me and told me and I was able to quietly tell the parent so they could stop it. And when I did, the parent had no idea what was taking place.

It is sad that so many parents don't talk about this with their children because it can happen and every child should understand what it means and that they CAN say no.

((((((Hugs)))))))
Open Eyes

Last edited by Open Eyes; Mar 06, 2012 at 12:46 PM.