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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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Daughter Has Just Disclosed Rape...

43 replies

nevermore · 13/08/2022 17:18

I'm rather lost and looking for support. My DD (17) has just told me that last night she was raped by a man in a nightclub while she was drunk and he sober. We are on a family holiday abroad and both our teenagers have friends with them here. I have hugged and reassured her that this is entirely the perpetrators shame, none on her and that she did nothing wrong. I have asked her if she'd like to report it but she wants to "forget" it. I realise this is of course her choice though unlikely she will. I didn't say that last bit. I have also said that I'm here for whatever she needs and if she'd like to talk to a professional at home we'll set that up. I've said she can call it whatever she likes but in law it's rape. It was her first time, he used a condom. The part I need advice on is that she's asked me not to tell her dad who is with us here. I feel I must honour her decision but am frozen and tearful. I absolutely want to prioritise her but feel isolated and helpless. I don't want to tell anyone she knows i.e. my friends as it is hers to say what happens to her story. Sharing here anonymously feels like the safe option. Thank you.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 16/08/2022 16:12

Oh, and you could tell your holiday rep if you have one. That way she can warn any other young girls or the families of, that may go clubbing in the area.

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 10:34

Sorry to bring this thread up again but my DD (20) has just told me at the weekend that she was drugged and raped at a festival 4 years ago. I am devastated for her and do not know what to do. It explains a lot though. A huge change in her around that time and lots of mental health issues since.

How is your daughter now?

What really really kills me is that my daughters 2 friends left her alone to go meet 2 other guys. she was the third wheel so to speak. She said she searched for an hour for them, has no recollection of talking to anyone and rems drifting in and of conciousness and woke up in a toilet. When she eventually found her friends they told her it was her fault for going missing. But she didn't. Also why did they not help her? Why did they not get help there and then. Why did she hold on to this fpr 4 years. We could have had help for her.

I do not know what to do. I want to contact these girls and ask them why? Why did they leave her. I understand they were all young but my poor DD has never been right since and we have been through the mill and back. It has effected her life completely. I rang the rape crisis centre but there is a wait list of a year for counselling. We can go privately but can anyone reccomend a good counsellor. She has been to many counselling sessions over the years bit has never talked about this before so has never started to heal. I really feel I have failed her and I am so devastated. I cannot stop crying. I can only imagine how this has been for her.

CantAskAnyoneElse · 13/04/2023 10:52

You’re anger is misplaced @PADDY17
The friends didn’t do this, they men did.

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 11:12

CantAskAnyoneElse · 13/04/2023 10:52

You’re anger is misplaced @PADDY17
The friends didn’t do this, they men did.

yes I understand that. I am very angry at whomever did it, absolutely. But why did they not help her when she eventually found them in a very bad state and quite visibly distressed and shaken up. Now they told her it was her fault and continued to party. Surely they need to take some responisibilty for their actions. It could have been dealt with them, it could have been reported, the rapist prosecuted.
All I am asking is what do I do now? I cannot tell her dad as she does not want him to know as I know he would go further and would go to every single one of their houses and would have an investigation done, no matter how long ago it was.

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 11:14

SHould I reach out to these friends ( ex friends as she stopped all contact with them abrubptly straight afterwards), Not that I was to know the reason why.

Do I contact them? Do I ask them their versions of events.

Jellyx · 13/04/2023 11:17

I think you should report it and encourage her to use supportive services.
You're her parent and need to support her to make good decisions.
Imagine she looks back in 10years time and see's a parent who didn't report it to the police when she herself didn't feel capable.

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 11:21

Jellyx · 13/04/2023 11:17

I think you should report it and encourage her to use supportive services.
You're her parent and need to support her to make good decisions.
Imagine she looks back in 10years time and see's a parent who didn't report it to the police when she herself didn't feel capable.

Yes, I keep asking her but she says she really does not want it all brought back up again as she has had 4 years to deal with it. She says she has told me in confidence and if I tell anyone else or make her report it, it will just make it worse for her. Also it is 4 years ago. But maybe going to the police might jog some of her friends memories.

So can you see were my predicament lies?

CantAskAnyoneElse · 13/04/2023 11:24

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 11:14

SHould I reach out to these friends ( ex friends as she stopped all contact with them abrubptly straight afterwards), Not that I was to know the reason why.

Do I contact them? Do I ask them their versions of events.

No.
Leave them alone!

billy1966 · 13/04/2023 11:26

Oh god help you. How absolutely devastating for her and you.

The poor pet.
Thank goodness she has finally told you what happened.

Now she can start on the long road to some sort of healing hopefully, with your support.

I'm so sorry.
I can't even begin to imagine the pain and anger you must be feeling.

Get some support for yourself too.

Her father must be in bits too.

This is why mothers tell their children to always stick together when out.

What awful friends they were to abandon her like that.

Just awful.

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 11:28

CantAskAnyoneElse · 13/04/2023 11:24

No.
Leave them alone!

I find your answers quite rude if I am honest. And quite abrubt. I am in total shock here and really looking for a handhold. They will be questioned anyway if she decides to report it to the police.

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 11:30

billy1966 · 13/04/2023 11:26

Oh god help you. How absolutely devastating for her and you.

The poor pet.
Thank goodness she has finally told you what happened.

Now she can start on the long road to some sort of healing hopefully, with your support.

I'm so sorry.
I can't even begin to imagine the pain and anger you must be feeling.

Get some support for yourself too.

Her father must be in bits too.

This is why mothers tell their children to always stick together when out.

What awful friends they were to abandon her like that.

Just awful.

Her father does not know as she has begged me not to tell him. I really want to tell him but cannot betray her trust. She is an adult now. I know that he would def want her to report it.
Thank you for your reply.

lala2023 · 13/04/2023 11:31

@Jellyx

Your advice is quite dangerous to be honest

Jellyx · 13/04/2023 11:32

lala2023 · 13/04/2023 11:31

@Jellyx

Your advice is quite dangerous to be honest

What's dangerous about reporting a crime..and making an effort to protect other young women?

Jellyx · 13/04/2023 11:34

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 11:14

SHould I reach out to these friends ( ex friends as she stopped all contact with them abrubptly straight afterwards), Not that I was to know the reason why.

Do I contact them? Do I ask them their versions of events.

I was under the impression this was a very recent event and not 4years ago.

Therefore my advice would now be

  • support access to specialist services
  • do not investigate

The request not to tell her father is a difficult one. He's your partner- what support are you getting? I personally wouldn't want to lie (by omission) to my partner and would want my own support network to manage.

billy1966 · 13/04/2023 11:34

Of course the rapist is responsible but I would be utterly appalled if my daughters behaved as they did, particularly afterwards.

Blaming her?
Continue partying?

Too bloody right the OP has every right to be angry with them and their response.🙄

I would be furious with my daughters if they responded like her friends, and so disappointed.

Theirs was the worst possible response.

The selfishness.
Unbelievable.

I think you have to respect her wishes.

I probably would seek information discreetly.

Oblomov23 · 13/04/2023 11:36

So very sorry to hear this. This isn't what any of us would want for our dd. Unfortunately this has now changed her and she will never be the same, she will go on a journey, a healing process, with probably many different feelings of anger, resentment etc. Flowers

PADDY17 · 13/04/2023 11:41

Oblomov23 · 13/04/2023 11:36

So very sorry to hear this. This isn't what any of us would want for our dd. Unfortunately this has now changed her and she will never be the same, she will go on a journey, a healing process, with probably many different feelings of anger, resentment etc. Flowers

It has changed her so much as a person but now we realise why. If only we knew back then, it is not going to change the past but she could have been healing.

Since it happened ( and I can pin point it) her grandmother died around the same time. She has been so anxious, depressed, no self worth, major OCD, I could list so many things. We have had her at counsellors, pschiatrists, doctors etc etc and she never ever once told anyone.

CarolineMumsnet · 13/04/2023 11:55

We’re really sorry to hear what your DD and you are going through here, PADDY17.

We can see that you are getting some useful support and advice, however given the time that’s passed since this thread was started and last posted on we think we need to be sensitive to the OP here. With that in mind, we’ll close this thread soon.

We hope you are able to start a new thread on this and that you continue to get advice and support there. Just drop us a line at [email protected] if you have any questions that we can help with.

Best wishes from all of us at MNHQ

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