My childhood, oddly enough, was not terrible despite the fact that it was when the vast majority of the sexual abuse I've experienced happened. Overall, I actually look back at my childhood fondly, and I think it's because my home life was not one of the problems. I went through very extreme trauma done by multiple extended family members, but at home I was very much loved and felt safe most of the time. I think it's the only reason I'm semifunctional.

For anyone who is struggling with feeling that their experience is somehow not valid because they had a "normal" childhood (I know I used to feel this way), please remember that we all experience our own pain uniquely. It doesn't matter how your life compares to anyone else's - for better or worse - your experience and your pain is your own, and it is completely valid simply because you are experiencing it.