Hi there
Thank you for your letter - I'm really glad you decided to write to me and tell me what is going on at home. It sounds as though you don’t feel safe at home at the minute because of what Shaun does to you. It also feels like it’s made more difficult because Shaun’s mood swings mean you can’t be sure when he will hurt you.
What Shaun does to you is wrong – he is supposed to be there to look after you and keep you safe. It’s never right for an adult to hurt a child and what he is doing is against the law. In the Explore section of the ChildLine website you can find more information about emotional abuse and physical abuse.
You asked if you should tell your school and that’s a very good question. Your school has a duty to make sure you are safe and this would mean that if you told them what happens at home, they are supposed to let someone know.
When schools are told something that makes them worried about your safety then they want to tell someone because they are concerned for you. Who they tell depends on what it is they’re worried about and it’s very difficult for me to say exactly what would happen.
One thing you could do is talk to one of the ChildLine counsellors either online or on the phone and talk more about what it would be like if you talked with school.
I’m really glad you chose to tell me about what’s happening, you have the choice about what you want to happen next – if you feel ready to tell someone about what happens at home, you could talk to an adult you trust, or you can talk to us here at ChildLine and we can help you to take the first steps to making things change.
Whatever you decide ChildLine will be here to support you and talk about what happens.
Take care
Sam