A short time ago, my youngest daughter (25yrs old) told me of some sexual abuse she endured as a child. This abuse was dealt to her by another child who was actually younger than my daughter.

The child who abused my child was the daughter of the babysitter. My kids grew up with her kids. We were great friends for a number of years. I had absolutely NO idea that this had happened to my daughter when she was growing up.

Now the dumbstruck part.......

I can't figure out my feelings about all this. I can't figure out how to react or what to say to my daughter. It's like I'm numb and no feelings or words will come that are comforting or understanding for her. This is making me very angry and I'm very sad that I can't seem to be there to support her emotionally. I don't understand this. I'm a sensitive person who normally can put herself in others shoes and have an idea of how someone else is feeling. This is really making my head spin.

My daughter is handling this all very well. I have suggested that she get some therapy so she can work through things in a safe environment. My heart goes out to her. I feel helpless.....and I am not dealing well with this situation we're in very well at all.

My daughter knows that the girl who abused her is ill and has been since childhood. This girl has done some very rotten things in childhood and in her adulthood also. She is very ill. My daughter knows this and is able to use that knowledge in her consideration of how she is working on dealing with it all. I'm very proud of her for being able to understand what this girl is going through.

I just don't understand how I can not figure out what I'm feeling.....or even express it if I figured it all out. I feel like I'm not being emotionally supportive of my daughter. And truly, that is not the case. I want to be supportive to her. I want to be able to tell her what I'm thinking and feeling......I guess I just don't know how. This is really bothering me.