As much as I want to get away from the heaviness of the last couple of days here at Ritalin Junkie, there's something that has been knawing at me all night, a message I feel compelled to share.

This won't be preaching, so quit rolling your eyes. They might stick that way. If they do, send me a picture. That'd be freaky.

Anyway.

I posted yesterday that I'm a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. I want to point out that it was not at the hands of my dad. My dad never laid a finger on me. Well, he spanked me twice that I can think of, but I would have spanked me those times, too.

My dad's abuse was all verbal. "That doesn't sound so bad," you might be thinking. "Your dad doesn't seem like such a bad guy."

Let me tell you something.

I got over the sexual abuse. I also got over the physical abuse I received from my peers. I don't believe I'll ever fully get over what my dad did to me.

Words have the power to destroy. The words you speak to a child can make or break her. My dad's words left me feeling worthless, useless, stupid and ugly. I grew up believing those things about myself. It is a daily struggle for me to convince myself that the things my dad said to and about me are not true. He nearly destroyed me, using nothing but words. He did the same to my siblings, and to our mother.

Our mother: talk about an example of faith in the midst of despair. Thank God for her, and her prayers, and her taking us to church in spite of dad's objections, filling our heads and hearts with what he referred to as "that holy roller b.s." It's what kept us sane. It's what kept him from completely destroying us.

But I digress.

Be careful of the words you speak to and about your children. Your words can build them up, give them a sense of self-worth, and give them the confidence to succeed at anything. Your words can also tear them down and crush their spirits. Children believe what you tell them. They also believe what they hear you say about them. If you tell them they're stupid, they'll go through life believing they are stupid. If you tell them they're no good, they'll believe that, too. Even if it's not true, even if you don't mean it, they'll believe it, and soon it will become true because they'll turn into what you tell them they are.

Words can be a powerful weapon. Please don't turn that weapon against your kids.