Originally published on D2LBlog.com on Nov 9, 2015 By Svava Brooks.
As a Darkness to Light instructor and program facilitator, I not only teach others about child sexual abuse prevention, I also practice what I teach. And I’ve had several opportunities.
The most difficult for me was a situation at a family gathering where one of the older men acted inappropriately toward my 13-year-old daughter. As she stood to leave the room following a conversation with this man, he reached over and smacked her on the rear end.
You may think this was a harmless gesture, but the reality is that sexual abuse often begins with “harmless” actions that test children’s physical boundaries. This man had made me uncomfortable in the past with how he would speak about my kids and their development. I was paying attention, and knew how to recognize signs, and trust my instincts.
My daughter’s entire body stiffened and froze, as she looked across the room at me. So, I took action. Standing next to her, I told the man what he had done was inappropriate and not allowed. Then, I hugged my child.
It was an empowering moment for me, doing for her what the adults in my life didn’t do for me when I was a child. Because I was educated and aware, I was able to reinforce my daughter’s boundaries and show her she could count on me to protect her.
Svava Brooks
Child Sexual Abuse Survivor, Abuse Survivor Coach, Parent, and Darkness to Light Certified Instructor
Svava Brooks is a survivor of child sexual abuse and the co-founder of a nationwide child sexual abuse prevention and education organization in Iceland called “Blátt áfram.” She is also a certified instructor and facilitator for Darkness to Light Stewards of Children in San Diego, California, as well as a certified Crisis Intervention Specialist, a certified Parent Educator, a BellaNet Teen support group facilitator, and an Abuse Survivor Coach.
The mother of three children, Svava has dedicated her life to ending the cycle of child sexual abuse through education, awareness, and by helping survivors heal and thrive. She is a certified facilitator for Advance!, a program created by Connections to restore authentic identity. Every week she also leads a discussion forum on Child Sexual Abuse for Viverae Health, a national wellness and health management company.
