I guess today is a weepy day

[callistra]

I just saw the footage on TV of the swimmer being attacked by her father. I hope he gets put away. People need to know that's NOT RIGHT.

I have a funeral on Friday.

I'm so not a ball of chirpiness today. All I want to do is cry and comfort eat, neither of which is good.

*sigh*

And I have to clean tears off my glasses again.

Comments

[willowgypsy.livejournal.com]

*hands you the tim tams*

I am right there with you sister...

35 mins til I need to leave

I can't concentrate on work, can't concentrate on anything, staring out the window wondering where 11 years went.

I am sorry you have a funeral to go to - knowing people won't be in our lives anymore is hard to take.

My eyes keep leaking on my keyboard.

[redbraids.livejournal.com]

Sending *hugs*

Comfort eating.

[battblush.livejournal.com]

I just ate half a block of chocolate. And now I hate myself more :(

I wish we could move south of the river again. I think we could both do with the company today.

I hate being so far away.

[girliejones.livejournal.com]

That footage is pretty disturbing. And the worst of it is he is her father - surely she will have to go home with him? And also - that this goes on all the time when noone hasa camera round to record it.

[divaflip.livejournal.com]

*whistling casually*

make sure to check your letter box, either today or tomorrow

[discordia13.livejournal.com]

Well at least something is being done:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1883788.htm

I wish you well for Friday. I hate em myself.

[baby-elvis.livejournal.com]

What gets me is that all the swimming people are saying 'We've never seen anything like it.' 'Cos, you know, fathers coaching their daughters is ALWAYS a good idea. Just ask Jelena Dokic, Mary Pierce, the Williams sisters etc.

One of my ex-students at St H's told me of her swimming coach hitting her when she didn't want to do something (she didn't seem to think it was out of the ordinary). I asked if she'd told her mum but she hadn't (I did). That's just ONE instance of violence in coaching that I know of. The prevalence of emotional abuse is HUGE though: I remember one being threatened with being dropped from her squad if she dared to go on school camp and miss 3 days of training. And not just a passing threat- it was weeks of pressure, the poor kid was on the verge of a breakdown over it. And don't get me started on the routine elite young gymnasts go through.

This gets attention because it's on film and it seems so extreme. Makes it hard to ignore. I abhor the actions of the man, but I abhor the acceptance of less extreme forms of abuse even more.