I am Carmen Cotto Santiago, born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut. I am the mother of three adult children, a daughter and two boys, and I helped raise three more children. All six are successful, educated professionals. I also have a beautiful granddaughter.
I obtained a Bachelor degree of Science in Human Services with a minor in Elementary Education from Springfield College, as well as a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership from Albertus Magnus. I have over 30 years’ experience in Community Organization, Social Services, Elementary Education, and Advocacy and Management. I am a public speaker, trainer, educator and a curriculum developer.
As an individual with dyslexia, I am in awe that I wrote this memoir, especially on a difficult topic that robbed me of most of my life. When I decided to transcribe my journals into a memoir, I was embarrassed and scared to share because I did not want to bring shame to my family. This taboo, unspoken family secret continues being the unspoken monster in many of our lives.
Today, as a Puerto Rican woman author, after researching Hispanic writers who might have written about their own experiences of childhood sexual abuse trauma, I found there are very few Hispanic, Latino, or Puerto Rican people sharing their experiences through literature. Two authors I did find were Junot Diaz (“The Silence: The Legacy of Childhood Trauma” in The New Yorker, April 9, 2018) and Rosie Rivera (Mis Pedazos Rotos: Sanando las Heridas del Abuso Sexual a Través de la Fé, la Familia y el Amor). We are not telling our stories, and therefore, our history will repeat itself.
As a child I lived years being molested and sexually abused by two family members. It stunted my emotional, social, cognitive, physical, mental and spiritual development. As an adult, I have had difficulty with decision-making and relationships.
I am put an end to what has controlled me throughout my entire child and adult life. I am not allowing those monsters to steal more from me, enough is enough.