When I was about twelve and my sister was two and one-half, my Mom had a mental breakdown. My brother now believes it was post-partem depression. But Dad put Mom in a Mental Health Hospital in Downtown Atlanta for two to three months. During this time he sent my sister, Julie, to stay with my aunt and uncle who lived in Atlanta.

Before this Julie had been a happy, sweet, giggly infant. When we left her at the relatives she was screaming. She screamed every time we went to visit her. It was heart wrenching for my Brother and me, we would cry all the way home. I am sure it affected Dad also.

Julie was never the same. She has had serious mental health issues since. Anger issues and other emotional issues. She is financially better off than me now. But this is one reason why she did not want to see me when I was up in Athens, Georgia last year where she lives. Too much pain from the past.

Toddlers are very fragile and can be permanently damaged in a billion ways other than physical abuse.