NC as first post and could be outing...
Okay - stay with me... When I was between 6 and 10 years old, my uncle used to masturbate against me by lying on top of me or 'cuddling me too hard'. I told my parents about this when I was 18, had left home and was sexually active so I knew then what he was doing. Parents decided to keep it to themselves so as not to upset my mother's sister and their three children. My mother even though she believed me told me that i 'had spoiled things for them now' and never spoke of it again.
Fast forward fifty years - I told my cousin (who is a professional hypnotherapist/counsellor) who is aware that I have had 'mental health issues' (not mad, but prone to depression and drinking too much) that it was in fact her father that had abused me... Her reaction and that of some other cousins was to block me on Facebook.
Five years on another older cousin has died and I don't know if I should go to the funeral. I don't know how they feel towards me, if they consider me a liar or being warped. I would be attending with my 81 year old widowed father. Should I feel shame or should I bloody well go? My father would support me 100% and I think is ashamed of himself for not confronting the uncle at the time, whom he continued to socialise with. The bad uncle died 10 years ago. My father has since told me that at another family function about thirty years ago, he felt physically sick when my uncle sat my toddler daughter on his knee.
I don't want to add any distress or drama to a bereavement. But something in me wants to stand up for the 7 year old girl in with such a dreadful secret.
WWYD?