how do you explain to your child that they are a child of rape

[aggie49]

i have a friend that was raped and she has come up to be a bright beautiful girl but she is asking why she doesn't look like her mom or dad which raised her i told my friend to be honest with her she will understand and be proud that you did tell the truth if you got anything to add let me know and i will pass it on 

[jmtalboo]

I searched around and found this page on the topic that should help.

Rape/Incest & Adopted Child: Issues to Consider if you Tell
http://adoptive-parenting.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/rape-incest-aamp-adopted-child-issues-to

[aggie49]

thank you for looking it up i will pass it along to my friend and i know she will appreciate it

[BizELady]

If this were my circumstance, I would NEVER tell my child.  I would wait until the child became an adult - then maybe.

[Annella]

Keeping a child from rape is commendable to say the least.  That in itself should tell the girl that she was loved from the very beginning, no matter how she was conceived. 

[lynnc35]

I would never tell my child this, just that her daddy is around no longer, if you do, you are going to bring about feelings on here, and I guarantee she will feel this way or he, whether they show it or not, they will feel dirty, unwanted, and not planned. they will feel outcast, do not do this to your child, or whosever has a child like this, the bad part needs to be tossed out into the sea, this is a child of God now. The act was be taken out of the picture, and this child should be loved like every one of us.

[kay7]

I would never tell my child this, just that her daddy is around no longer, if you do, you are going to bring about feelings on here, and I guarantee she will feel this way or he, whether they show it or not, they will feel dirty, unwanted, and not planned. they will feel outcast, do not do this to your child, or whosever has a child like this, the bad part needs to be tossed out into the sea, this is a child of God now. The act was be taken out of the picture, and this child should be loved like every one of us.

What a beautiful sentiment and I believe you are right on the money.  It's information that could be very damaging to the child and shouldn't be shared.  I doubt that you could get by for long just saying that daddy is no longer around because I imagine any child would have questions about why he's not there along with other things but every effort should be made to withhold information about the rape from the child.

[mawhite63]

They need to be told as an adult. Everyone is entitled to the truth, no matter how difficult it is. To keep information like that from a person as an adult is living a lie, and also extremely unfair. However, I wouldn't tell them as a child. Just that their daddy unfortunately isn't around. It's too much for a child to process.

[sommap]

I agree with Lynn.  I would never tell a child.  I might tell them when they became an adult.

[articx]

Every child is different meaning not all of them are going to react in the same way. Some may find that truth difficult to deal with, and some may kill themselves or at least think about doing it. Then there are probably kids who will accept the truth, and move on.

I agree with Lynn.  I would never tell a child.  I might tell them when they became an adult.

What if the child somehow finds out, and hates their mother or father for not telling them the truth?

[Theladyjoker1817]

I would never tell my child this, just that her daddy is around no longer, if you do, you are going to bring about feelings on here, and I guarantee she will feel this way or he, whether they show it or not, they will feel dirty, unwanted, and not planned. they will feel outcast, do not do this to your child, or whosever has a child like this, the bad part needs to be tossed out into the sea, this is a child of God now. The act was be taken out of the picture, and this child should be loved like every one of us.

What a beautiful sentiment and I believe you are right on the money.  It's information that could be very damaging to the child and shouldn't be shared.  I doubt that you could get by for long just saying that daddy is no longer around because I imagine any child would have questions about why he's not there along with other things but every effort should be made to withhold information about the rape from the child.

you can't cover a lie with a another lie that makes it worse.. telling the truth is better that way so the kid wont have to look for more information about what happen to them being a parent and tell the truth bout it before you lose them..

[footemama]

I don't think that I would tell my child that I was raped when they were very young maybe not ever it would depend entirely upon the circumstances that they were asking me.

When they were young I would just tell them that they didn't have a daddy and that not all mommy's need to have daddy's to have a baby. As the got older I would probably tell them that they were conceived by the use of a sperm donor, essentially that is the truth the only difference is that I wouldn't have had a choice in who made the donation. As far as I'm concerned that is EXACTLY how I see the situation. Anyone that conceived as a result of rape conceived by sperm donation.

[sadblueyes1]

I don't think I would tell her

[travislang]

i know im a male and never would have to do this, but i would have to say i wouldnt tell them that, just explain that there daddy is no longer around and that it is best that way. i mean i know for some its like lieing to the child, but you can say there not around no more and it is for the best with out lieing. as far as them asking why its best, who could just say that they had hurt mommy and that he can longer see us....

[smithjcsdfw]

I have a grandchild that was the product of a rape and to this day her mother has not told her the exact circumstances of his conception.  And all I can say is that God got the father before I did.