reviews for Someone to Watch Over

Thank you all for the wonderful messages of support, it means a lot to me and my family. If you have read Someone To Watch Over Me I would really love to hear what you think.
Best wishes
Izzy

Missing Girl Madeline McCann

Last night my husband and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary but I can't stop thinking about the abduction of little Madeleine. I was away when the abduction of happened, without access to radio, papers or television. It was not until Monday that I first heard the terrifying news that every parent fears at some point. It catapulted me back in time to my own memories. Please god do not let this be the work of a sexual predator. I pray that Madeleine is returned safely to her family.

Child carer overdosed

I have just heard the sad news that a 13 year old carer overdosed on methadone. In reality, child or young carers should be outlawed in this and every country where it takes place, however we all know this won't happen overnight. When a child is given the responsibility of being a carer they get on with it and I would hazard a guess that for every child we know of there are 10 we don't know about. They often take on the role out of loyalty, necessity and love but in my case it was fear of retribution. Society will only find out things are not right when a crisis comes along and by then, as in this case, it is too late.

In my situation my parents reclaimed me when I was old enough to help them to communicate and treated me like an unpaid servant. As a consequence I was not only abused but missed out on a full education which was my right as a child. Only when things broke down, did anyone look into the situation and by then, for many reasons, it was too late. The damage had been done. Sadly we have not learned much since the early 1960's.

Yes I certainly did learn things that others may not have under a normal family relationship, however at the same time I had no childhood and was exposed to things that would affect my life forever. I am not alone in this but I was alone as a carer.

Many thanks for the overwhelming support

I really appreciate all the support I've been getting on the comments section of this site. My book is officially published next week and posters of the cover will be at bus stops all over the country so I am inevitably feeling a bit nervous. The support of friends really helps and the support of people I have never met is even more moving. Thank you. This has been my journey, my choice and although my family are in full support of me it is not their choice to have this opened up to the world. Therefore it would have been unfair to expose them to this publicity by making me or them identifiable. Had it been down to me alone I would have stood tall and proud.....THIS IS NOT MY SHAME.

Writing my book

When I wrote my memoir about the abuse I'd suffered as a child it tore me apart but I hoped that by allowing it to be published it would help others who have found or will find themselves in a similar situation. I insisted that names and geographical locations were changed to protect the privacy of my children and grandchildren but now find that national newspapers are questioning my story and doubting it's authenticity. I am desperately hurt and thought I would start this blog as a way of responding to the publishing process. In the prologue of SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME I describe my father (who was profoundly deaf and had tunnel vision) took me at the age of 9 to the Royal Institute of the Blind in London where he and a female friend of his (who was also visually impaired) sexually abused me on two occasions. That is one location which hasn't been changed and that abuse changed my life irrevocably. To many my story may just be another 'misery memoir', to me and my family it is all too real.