💙 I Was Only 5: Breaking the Silence During Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Shannon Brown
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
By Shannon Brown | Author | Survivor | Advocate
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
A time to raise awareness, to educate, and most importantly, to listen.
But awareness isn’t just statistics or campaigns.
Sometimes… it looks like telling the truth about what it felt like to be a child living in silence.
This is my truth.
I Was Only 5
You don't know what it feels like
To live in the silence caused by violence
And the mocking and the stalking
To be in a room being groomed.
I was only 5, my god why?
I was a child, this should sound wild,
But to me, all I see
Is my “dad” being sad.
His anger would rise,
Behind quiet lies,
And I learned very fast
Some moments don’t pass.
The doors would all close,
And nobody knows
The fear in your chest
When “love” fails the test.
You grow up too fast,
Your childhood a past,
Learning to hide
The hurt deep inside.
But silence can break,
And truth has a wake.
The girl once so small
Is now standing tall.
Because what he did
Was never my shame.
I was a child.
And I will say his name.
And now I speak loud
For the children unheard,
For the girl I once was
Who couldn’t find words.
The silence is broken.
The truth will remain.
You tried to erase me,
But I rose from the pain.
Why This Matters
When people think of child abuse, they often look for obvious signs.
But the truth is… it often lives in silence.
It lives in:
The child who suddenly becomes quiet
The child who is always “too aware”
The child who is afraid of the very people they need
Children don’t always have the words.
But their behavior tells a story.
And it’s our responsibility to listen.
From Silence to Voice
For a long time, I didn’t have the words.
I didn’t have the understanding.
I didn’t have the safety to speak.
So I survived the only way I knew how,
by staying quiet.
But silence doesn’t mean something didn’t happen.
It means a child didn’t feel safe enough to say it.
Today, I do have a voice.
And I use it, for the girl I once was and for the children who are still living in that silence.
How You Can Help Protect Children
Awareness is only the first step. Action is what creates change.
💙 Believe children when they speak
💙 Pay attention to behavioral changes
💙 Create safe, judgment-free spaces
💙 Speak up when something feels wrong
You don’t have to be certain.
You just have to care enough to act.
A Message to Survivors
If this resonates with you, please hear this:
You were a child.
It was never your fault.
Your voice matters, no matter when you find it.
You are not alone. 💙
Continue the Conversation
My memoir, Because of Jane, shares more of my story, through the lens of the child I was and the voice I’ve found.
It’s available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook (also on Apple Books/iTunes).
✨ Learn more, read, and join the advocacy work:
💙 Resources & Support
If this post brought up emotions, memories, or concerns, for yourself or for a child in your life, please know there is support available. You don’t have to navigate this alone.
📞 Immediate Help & Crisis Support
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
📱 Call or text: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
💬 Live chat available at childhelphotline.org
Available 24/7 with professional counselors
National Domestic Violence Hotline
📱 Call: 1-800-799-7233
💬 Text: START to 88788
🌐 thehotline.org (live chat available)
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
📱 Call or text: 988
💬 24/7 free, confidential support for anyone in emotional distress
🧸 Support for Children & Families
Darkness to Light
Education and resources focused on preventing child sexual abuse
Stop It Now!
Tools and guidance for adults to recognize and prevent abuse
RAINN
📱 800-656-HOPE | 🌐 rainn.org
Support for survivors of sexual violence
💬 A Gentle Reminder
Reaching out can feel overwhelming.
You don’t have to share everything.
You don’t have to have the right words.
You just have to take the first step.
💙 You are not alone
💙 You are worthy of support
💙 Help is available
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