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Survivor wants to confront abuser from years ago

By Amy Dickinson, Tribune Content Agency on

Dear Amy: Decades ago, starting when I was 16, I worked at a healthcare facility as an assistant.

The doctor, who I revered at the time, would do things to me like discreetly squeeze my inner legs during patient visits, and hold me in a long embrace after patients left. He eventually invited me to his lake house to babysit his children (while his wife was away), but then kissed me and attempted to have sex with me.

This kind of behavior continued for the several years I worked for him.

He recently reached out to me to wish me a happy 55th birthday.

Thanks to the #MeToo movement and conversations with my daughters, I have been processing how inappropriate his actions were and realizing I have lingering emotions (including anger) about the situation.

I am wondering if I should respond to this birthday email, and if so, what I should say.

 

-- MeToo!

Dear MeToo!: Even though it might make things easier for you, I cannot tell you what you should do in this situation.

I will tell you, however, what I think I would do.

Yes, I would respond to this email. And this is what I would try to say:

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