Today, Pat Conroy discusses his newly published memoir, My Reading Life, on NPR’s Weekend Edition. Briefly, though poignantly, Conroy mentions the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his father, who terrorized Conroy and his mother until he went off to war.

“Reading was a refuge for [Conroy], both emotionally and physically. Conroy’s father wouldn’t hit him when he was reading; he thought his son was studying and approved of it. “It was the one place you could go to get away from his fists,” says Conroy. “And it worked every time.” (Excerpt from Weekend Edition’s story.)

Conroy’s honest and public portrayal of his childhood trauma, through the lens of maturity, is not often heard. Though the profession is no doubt cathartic, abuse victims must want to move on with their lives and not be defined in their adulthood by childhood trauma. Public profession raises the stakes even higher, making not only friends and family, but strangers, see the person in a different light.

But occasionally child abuse victims discuss their trauma in public, sometimes with serious consequences. Recently in Massachusetts, a woman who was stripped searched by a police officer when she was 14 years old upset the political aspirations of U.S. House of Representatives hopeful Jeff Perry by making a public statement as to his involvement in the 1991 incident.

“He had to hear me screaming and crying. Instead of helping me, Jeff Perry denied anything happened,” said Allen, who released the statement to the Globe through her lawyer.” (As quoted in the Boston Globe. Read the full story.)

These confessions, though extremely difficult for the victims, lift the veil of silence that surrounds child abuse and helps break the cycle of violence. I hope they do not regret their decisions.

For more information on how to recognize signs of abuse in children, visit the U.S. Administration for Children and Families’ web site.

Halloween Quick Tips for Kids

Be safe this Halloween.

When you’re choosing a costume:

• Pick something you feel comfortable wearing. Avoid itchy or see through fabrics.
• Test costume makeup on the back of your hand to see if it’s irritating.
• Wear comfortable shoes if you’re walking long distances.
• Don’t wear decorative lenses. They can hurt your eyes.
• Bring a jacket or raincoat if the weather is bad.

When you’re trick or treating:

• Avoid dark streets.
• Stick with your friends.
• Don’t talk to strangers.
• Let your parent(s) or guardian(s) know where you are.

When you’re eating treats:

• Dump your treats out onto a table instead of reaching into your bag.
• Check every treat.
• Throw out open candy, bruised or cut fruit, or anything suspicious.
• Eat a one or two pieces a day and put the rest away.
• Brush your teeth after you eat your treats.

Help kids in need this Halloween by trick or treating for UNICEF!