When I tried to report my suspicions that my ex was abusing my kids, I was told by DCFS to stop stirring up trouble or I would lose custody.

Years later, my kids are old enough to be listened to, and the DA office still chose not to prosecute because it’s he-said-she-said. Both kids have mental health issues stemming from child abuse that I have to deal with on a daily basis, all while trying to juggle my mental health as a previous abuse victim from the same man.

And then they say that victims fail to report. Well, duh. It’s often safer not to.