It Is A Big Deal, And It Happened to Me [HuffintonPost.com]

The unusual topic of conversation seems to follow me. At business meetings, dinner parties, and coffee dates, people keep talking to me about their childhood abuse. It makes sense: my story of abuse motivates my work, and I don’t stop talking about my mission to end violence in every home (TEDTalk). Because I share my vulnerable story, people open up to me; some tell of severe cases, others of the occasional slap or scream. It must be human nature to diffuse pain and suffering because most say that they deserved the abuse.

Let me tell you this... I did not deserve it.

I did not deserve to be beaten because the baby pooped in his diaper and smeared it on the wall. The baby was one year old and I was five. I was told to watch the baby, and I was watching the baby. Regardless, I did not deserve to be hit. Nothing a child does merits physical pain and emotional suffering - even if it’s to “teach a lesson.”