You think you’ve done everything you can to prepare your child for protecting their physical boundaries and consent and then the devastating happens. You learn that your child’s boundaries have been broken.
The impact of this kind of trauma is incredibly painful, damaging and long-lasting. The ripple effect means that not only the child suffers, but so do parents and siblings. Personal and shared recovery takes time. In the face of such stressful and emotionally confronting events, how does a family cope?
In this episode, Stephanie shares the recent story of her family as they’ve dealt with the trauma of what happened to her daughter. Stephanie raises important questions about consent, physical boundaries, outside influences on teenagers, and the limitations of the law. She also talks about the importance of understanding your child’s silence. What are they not telling you? Do they know how to tell you things and are you giving them opportunities to talk to you?
Stephanie’s frank and heart-felt words offer real insight into the challenges of expat parenting in different cultures – national, state and familial.
Our conversation is challenging to listen to, but an important one for anyone raising children and especially globally mobile families.
Mentioned in Episode
Tea and Consent video – Thames Valley Police
Cusp – documentary
Euphoria – USA TV Series
Anatomy of a Scandal – Netflix series
Naked Attraction – British dating show on Channel 4
Resources
UK
Police – call triple nine (Tel: 999)
Rape Crisis – England and Wales charity with helpline
Victim Support – information and support
NHS – Getting help
Rape Crisis – Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Samaritans – FREE Help – Tel: 116 123, E: jo@samaritans.org
The British Psychology Society – Find a Psychologist
Australia
Police – call triple zero (Tel: 000)
1800 Respect – National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling service
Healthline – National Helpline and information for sexual assault
Beyond Blue – Mental health support
Headspace – National Youth Mental Health Foundation with support services
The Black Dog Institute – Medical health resources, services and research
SANE Australia – Counselling support, Tel: 1800 187 263 (10am – 10pm)
USA
Police – call nine one one (Tel: 911)
RAINN – National Sexual Assault Hotline
Crisis – Crisis Text Line
Healthline – Sexual Assault Resource Guide
American Psychologist Association – Psychologist Finder
OR contact medical/legal/law enforcement in your country.
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Episode information
Music by Grant McLachlan
