Dear Queenie,
When I was a child my uncle molested me. I told my parents about it and they kept me away from him, but they didn’t do anything else about it.
Now I am grown up and have children of my own and I won’t let them be anywhere around him. My parents think I am overreacting because my children are still younger than I was when he molested me and besides it was so long ago and he is so much older now.
Queenie, are they right or am I right to be careful around him?—Worried mother
Dear Worried,
They are wrong. You are right. Molesters do not “outgrow” their abusive tendencies.
You do not have to make a big fuss about it, but do not ever let your children be alone with him. And do not leave your children with your parents either if you are not certain they will be careful and will protect them from him.
