My name is Tasha.  I used to live with my mom and my dad. 

I used to do things that made my mom get mad at me and tell me I was bad.  I had a secret that I wanted to tell her — but I was scared –so I would do things that I hoped would make her ask me what was wrong. 

One day I told her. 

I was so scared — even more scared than I was when my dad would come into my room after everyone else was in bed.  I used to pretend I was sleeping because I thought he would leave.  He would come in and touch me places where he was not supposed to.  He did other things too.  Things only mommies and daddies are supposed to do. 

When I told my mom she started crying, but knew exactly what to do.  She and I went to the hospital and called the police.  My mom said she would keep me safe. 

The hospital told her to take me to the Children’s Advocacy Center.  I talk to a lady who said her job was to talk to kids.  She asked me a lot of questions.  They were embarrassing.  I also had to have a doctor do an exam and do something called “collect evidence”.  I don’t really know what that means but knew it was something that was going to help me be safe. 

A lady talked to my mom and helped my mom come up with a plan to keep me safe.  She even called and checked on us after we left. 

I still visit the Children’s Advocacy Center.  I go to therapy and talk about ways to keep my body safe and how it wasn’t my fault. 

The day I walked into the Children’s Advocacy Center I was so scared — but now I feel safe and the best thing is that my mom stopped crying.