A long time ago I watched a programme with Aleesha Barlow and the difficlut relationship she had with her mother. It struck me to my core and I sent Aleesha an email. It was only when I got an email back from Aleesha very recently that I remembered I had sent that message to her over a year ago. Funny how life works!
If there is one thing I wish to share with people it’s to talk early and talk often. The layers of abuse are far more than an onion and the silence surrounding it, in my opinion, causes the many layers to form in the first place.
Through Aleesha’s work with #tellsomebody I’ve been reminded of how important this work is and how easy it is to just keep quite.
I’ve included some information below on Aleesha’s story and her children’s book Tell Somebody; Volume 1 which I think is particularly important. If we can learn to talk early and talk often mabye we can help stop these cycles of abuse that so often perpetuate from one generation to the next.
“Aleesha Barlow was molested by her maternal grandfather when she was a child. At age 6, she told her mom and her two aunts, that their dad was touching her inappropriately. They made her promise not to tell anyone, especially the police, and her own father. They told Aleesha not to worry, and that they would make sure her grandfather would stop. They promised that they would send him to jail if it continued. Aleesha did not tell anyone, and the molestation continued. 20 Years Later, Aleesha created Tell Somebody Inc., an organization that works toward ending child abuse of any kind. Telling her dad and the world her story was the biggest step of Aleesha’s life! The Tell Somebody movement is bringing awareness to parents that molestation does happen. 95% of molestation happens by a family member or close friend, so talk to your children, please! Tell somebody is about giving strength to all survivors, to tell your story so you can heal, no matter how long it’s been, it’s time to seek therapy or counseling. It’s time to tell somebody, and if that doesn’t work, tell somebody else. We are survivors, which means we are warriors, and means we are strong. You are strong!
