"Too Close for Comfort" is a resource for and about teenagers who have been sexually abused by someone in their families. This is an experience both girls and boys might have. Abusers might be men or women. This might be something that has happened to you, to someone in your family, or to one of your friends.
If you decide to read on, you could change a life - perhaps your own.
Remember – some choices are irreversible. Think carefully before you make your move.
If you decide to read on, you could change a life - perhaps your own.
The Interactive Stories
Here are the stories of Aroha, Liv, Chris and Tash. As you follow each story path, you will come to crossroads where you'll be confronted with the choices each of them face. Choose the way forward carefully, since your choices may lead to success or disaster, safety or danger. What happens is a result of your choice. None of the choices are easy. Making choices that lead to safety and happiness will often seem impossible. There are happy endings, but often you have to give up a lot along the way.Remember – some choices are irreversible. Think carefully before you make your move.
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Be a part of Aroha's Story
Aroha tried to find out from friends if it was happening to them, but it was hard to discuss and they didn’t seem to understand her subtle questions. She started to feel different and more and more alone....
Be a part of Tash's Story
Everything seemed so big and overwhelming. During the next few weeks she spent hours in her cosy, warm wardrobe. It was small, only a little bit bigger than her, and it was the only place in the world where she filled up the space...
Be a part of Chris's Story
Chris admired the way his uncle could play sports so well and felt really honoured when Bill would give him some special cricket coaching...
Be a part of Liv's Story
Liv, left standing alone, felt numb. She realised she desperately wanted Mum to hold her and tell her it was okay. She wasn’t sure how long she stood completely motionless, but suddenly she just needed to move, to shake of the feeling of being abandoned that had come over her....
Acknowledgements
This book was originally written in 1991 by Joy Hayward and David Carlyle, and published in New Zealand, Britain and Finland. Sadly, all these years later, children and teenagers are still being sexually abused and face the same terrible dilemmas. Making choices is hard and sometimes there is no right or wrong answer. I hope, though, that having digital access to this book may be of assistance to those struggling with what to do. It is often a lonely struggle and, because it is hard to talk about, it is hard to find others who have had the same experience.
Turning this book from hard copy to digital format is a task beyond my technical skills. I would like to offer my profound thanks to Dene Waring, who, from my perspective, has worked magic. Also to Charlotte Hayward, who both retyped the entire book and made very helpful editorial suggestions. I would also like to thank my young adult and teenage editors, Caitlyn and Meg Tisdall, and Libby Bloem, who gave me the teenage seal of approval. The New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists have been very supportive in providing me with a grant to cover expenses. Last, but not least, thanks to Clare Dorking, who continued to believe in this project and who offered moral support and, at times, a gentle nudge in the right direction.