Comments on: A voice for the children

By: Jessie

Jessie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:48:23 +0000

I suspected abuse a few weeks ago when I saw this little girl had bruises on her arms and legs,the man she was with kept kicking her while she was walking with him. No one seemed to care. I did not know any child abuse telephone numbers for help so instead I called the police and they took matters in their own hands. I felt so scared for the little girl she looked so thin and all bruised up I seriously wanted to kidnapp her and run away. Few days later this was in the Polish news paper and the man turned out to be her stepfather, he for 30 years in prison, but I still believe he should of got life in prison. So anyone who feels they need help do not be afraid to talk to Joe or his wife they will help you. Most children are too scared to talk to any one because of what their abusers might of told them, they should not be afraid they are not alone.

By: Abbie

Abbie — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:44:54 +0000

Hey Joe.
You are a true inspiration to all these people, im 13 and your book was truly horrifying, you are a true legend, and joe your dad would be proud and you are such a strong man , i hope you live the rest of your life in happiness, your amazing ! A VERY BIG WELL DONE for plucking up the courage to write this book . God Bless You Joe, well done for making it where you are now, and like i said your dad would be very proud of you and he loves you still lotss, x

lovee Abbie x x

By: leanne

leanne — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:37:35 +0000

hi joe.i have just finished reading `cry silent tears` and usually i don`t do this because i am never very good with words and saying what i want to.although i am now 27 with 3 beautiful daughters.things were hard when i was young.an uncle of mine court my dad shaking me when i was 6weeks old but because no-one else saw it it got ignored so up untill i was 13 he kept hitting me when no one was around.i was to scared to tell my mum but my brother new and he tryed his best to protect me.it left me with no confidence at all so i can`t stand up for myself in any way.i tryed to fight back a few years ago but at the then age of 25 he hit me again just like when i was a kid.so i never tryed again.my problem now is that he lives just round the corner from me and sometimes comes round to my house havin been drinking and trys to pick up my youngest children.3 yrs old and 9mth old.although i try to protect my children the best i possibly can i just can`t find it in me to tell him to get out.im scared of what may happen.i have a partner who i tell everyting to but i won`t let him do anything because i`m worried that it will be him that ends up getting arrested or something and dad getting away with it as usuall.over the last 2 years i have had to try and find my strong side because as well as bringing up my children i am also looking after my fiance`, he has cancer and is going through alot of treatment.in saying that visitng your website has made me think i`m going to have to stand up to dad i get him out of my life,so i can be happy with whatever time i have left with my fiance` and never have to worry about my father again. i wish you and your family all the very best for the future,and thank you.you have helped me alot..x

By: natalie

natalie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:09:15 +0000

my first memory , sitting in my bedroom, I can even remember what wallpaper I had on my walls, where the bed was and that I had one doll and not much else, My dad had been drilling and I collected some of the saw dust up in my bedroom too feed to my doll, My dad came in and belted the living day lights out of me for doind so, I was only 4.
my dad was an alcoholic bully, constantly belittling my mum either violently or mentally.
I was a daddys girl, but not like most daddies girls. it just means my dad wasnt as hard on me as he was on my mum or my brother, in which they resented me for.
one of myother memories, involvd my bro, my dad and my unlce standing outside my nans door and lifting my brother up and down by his hair, he was bright red in the face screaming his heart out, he was 6, I remember standing there in fear thinking I am glad thats not me, my brother grew up, he was distructive, naughty, violent, he wet the bed until he was 16 and noone ever questioned it, we would get beaten with a belt, garden cane, stick slipper hand fist what ever came to hand, my mum was tougher on me to compensate my brother getting it worse from my dad.
Iwas belittled, called fat all the time, humiliated, until my brother started boxing and then my dad loved him and was proud of him, then encouraged my brother to use me as a punch bag, I dont want to go on into any more details, I buried them along time ago now to be draged up any more,
but if you are a victim of abuse you can change the life you were born into, sadly my brther didnt, he still is a messed up now as he was then, I changed my cycles, and it wasnt easy, but I did it, I am haunted by my childhood and although people know bits, they dont know the half of it.
I always wanted to write a book but until I know how my story ends and whether I can really changed my conditioning and believe in myself, then its not worth reading.
I want the confidence to study to be a child psycologist, I wold love to reach out the vunerable children and help them help themselves, I just dont believe enough in myself that I can do it.

no body is a failure, you all have the will to succeed and I believe you can only go as far as you are willing to push.
I have met lots of people in mylife time that promise you the stars but deliver ash,
to everyone that visits this website, with their own story to tell, just remember one thing you have the power within you to change any situation you find yourself in, you are strong and you can survive.

please do not become a victim of abuse, become a survivor.

By: K****

K**** — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:17:51 +0000

I feel so bad…for ever thinking I hated my life and for hurting myself wishing it wasnt true.I knew that there were people that had worse lifes than me every day but when i was busy arguing and feeling sorry for myself it never seemed to matter.Im crying now even though i know it cant help the children out there that are being abused but im so sorry. I cried reading the book and couldnt stop myslef feeling so bad. I saved up for the book as from the back i could see it looked a good read.
Growing up my dad abused me and my mum when finally he ran away with not wanting anything to do with us anymore. My mum meet someone knew who has never been the farther figure i wanted i should say.I lived with my grandad for ages before he sadly died for no reason. I then as back with my mum and him who has a very bad temper.I have never been abused so it left marks which makes me feel really bad for ever thinking im bad off. I argue ever day,all day…its turned me into a child who has a really short temper and i hate it.Ive only ever been kicked or slapped, minor injures.
Well done in publishing your book…Dunno who you did it.You are an amaizing person who everyone would be proud of let alone your Dad.Your children are gunno grow up to be like you and people will inspire to be like.Your future is what you make it, your book has taught be that and im so thankful. Everyone who reads your story will agree how much an amazing person you are…u should be in world records for helping and touching so many peoples hearts.XXXK**

By: stacey

stacey — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:48:56 +0000

hi joe. i just want to say your dad would be so proud of you for getting through all you have over the years, i cant emagine all the pain you have been through. i only bourt you book last night and have allready read it (not had a wink of sleep)lol loads of tears and i really do fell ur pain i was abused from a younge age mentaly fisicaly and sexual for 9 years day in day ouyt of the one person who i thourt was my daddy, when i first got touched i spoke out and wasnt belived by social services and soon has they said nothing had happened it carried on for years i never spoke a word to anyone what he was repetly doing to me has i new no one would belive me he did some terble things to me and there still coming back now the memorys things i put to the back of my mind! when my mum finally had anothe of all her beatings she left him it was the best day of my life but i was still scared she would want him back but dhe didnt thank god, i finally spoke out when i meet my soul mate mat and told him everything i did remeber then i fell pregnant with my first child and didnt have the courage to tell the police till i had my lil man, when i finally did tell them they belived me all the way and i went to court with just my word against his after my second lil man and i had no evedince and he got 50+years and has to surve 10 and a half which is nothing to what i went through i think you should reall try and do something about what happened to you they will be more children who are still suvering at the hands of them same people, i really want to help all these children who are so silent when they should be speaking out about what they are being put thourgh i really want to do something but i dont no what yet! i wish you all the happyness after everything u have been through (and i no the pain never goes away )be nice to hear from you and sorry about all the spelling mastics i didnt learn much at school neither all my love stacey xxx

By: C Louise

C Louise — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:00:06 +0000

I have read a few of these post and feel I should also put a bit of my child hoos on the website. Reading Joe’s book utterly broke me to know that so many people suffer suc bad abuse at any age….it is wrong and I feel strongly that it should be stopped though people in higher positions never seem to fully grasp this. Ever since I was a youn child I remember nothing really except from arguing. With regards to material posessions I was a spoilt child….for every thing my father broke or smashed either in front of me or on me I always got twice as much back….this has effected me in a very immaturewhen and I ate to admit even at the age of 18 I get mardy if I do not get what I want. My father, I remember always had a bad temper…hehad even attacked my mother the night before there wedding…resulting in a broken hand! I can not remember which memory comes first, I just remember some, I dont even remember how I felt at the time…though I can guess! I remember seeing my father smashing a tray over my mothers face, resulting in my mother getting a broken jaw…in the end we ended up being an isolating family as no one wanted to be known as involved with such a vioent perfetic family. I remember being dragged up the stairs by my father with my hair…as reaching my room he picked me up and the hardest I beileve he pysically could of…he chucked me on the wall & I bounced off onto my bed waking up moments later feeling winded & confused at why it had happened…I believe I must of only been about 8 years old. My mother was also a lady with some power behind her self…though she always showed love & I truley believe she never meant any thing she did…my father had countless affairs & my childhood was very confusing…The violence my father showed was mainly to my mother…and even at the youngest age I woul stick up for my mother up until I was ither knocked out or my mother was. I recall any a times going into my mother in thebathroom and asking how she had gotted all the bruises over her legs…” I fell down the stairs”, “I walked into the door” were some of theexuses I was told…but even as a seven year old I was never fooled by these. As a result of my family life I was very distubtive at school and failed every exam…was very violent towards other students & teachers…I have a brother who foun him self moving o the navy to run from the family life and the drugs he had gotten him self into…he has ow come out ut suffers terribly with commitment & has never held onto any relationship he has been in..he has recently met his girlfriend who is lovely and I hope he manages to find the corage to trust this one…Myself, I try not to show thatmy past has effected me though it has,…My temper is very bad & my partner has a lot to deal with with my vicious attacks…I live with my father & his fiance & my mother is married to a lovely man and she seems to finally be happy…Living with my fathr is not exactly where I want to be…and his fiance makes it clar she is not fond of me..but I put on the best smil I can and aim to move in with my partner & begin my own life…My expirences are nothing compared to what Joe Peters has been through but I hope that some one will read his and see…whether you have suffered a lot or a little it can still effect you…but you can come through with a smile….fid love happeness and success like I did and be happy with your self!!!

By: Kirsty

Kirsty — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:20:03 +0000

Jus thought I’d drop you a line.
Joe, I really admire you for getting yourself through all the pain and emotional damage of your childhood, I’ve read a few books of this nature, but yours particularly pulled on my heart strings and inspired me to want to help people to through similar things. I think you are fantastic and it must have taken an awful lot of courage to share your story with the world and get through it to where you are today, I really do respect you for that. You are very lucky to have found your soul mate, its clear to see that no matter what goes on, a happy ending is possible!
I’ve not experienced anything like you or that I know others have, and still are to this day. It saddens me to think that there are people out there who can do such things as if its nothing, and causing such immense pain and suffering to all involved! I hope that someday I can be there for people just like you and offer the support your wife has to you and you both are now by this site, helping one person would mean there would be one less person suffering in silence out there.
Setting up this website is a fantastic idea. I am 17 and studying my A levels at my local High School Sixth Form, I am a trained Peer Supporter and offer my ear whenever possible. My mum also works at the high school, running a student support centre, where she has many young people coming to her from within the school and has worked with many students who are having trouble a suffering many forms of abuse. I know how hard it must be making that first connection to speak up about things like these, but things can only get better. And turning points like that happen because of the bit of hope for a way out.
No one deserves such pain, no one chooses this suffering, its unfair and cruel.
I’m proud of you Joe for surviving such horrific events, and you give other people who know your story bit of hope to make it through!
Thoughts with you all, Kirsty xXxXxXx

By: sammyjo

sammyjo — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:27:34 +0000

this message is for samantha lewis what your brother and dad are doing to you isnt right i no you dont feel strong to talk to somebody or to get anybody in to trouble but you need to tell some body even if you think your mum will be mad but darling she wont be what your dad and brother are doind it is wrong and daddys and brothers are not allowd please tell your mum what they are doing to you lots of hugs xx

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Hi, ive just finished your book “cry silent tears” and i want to say that im very sorry for the hurt and pain that you had to go through and that my heart goes to you. You are a very sensible and a decent man to have to put up with such evil treatment and that should not have happend to you because you did not deserve any of it at all!, i hope you all the best for the future :), take care xxxx