I just watched a Netflix series called No One Saw Us Leave. To be able to watch it shows me how much I’ve healed. Some of the scenes in the series were identical to my story. It’s a story about a father who took his children away from their mom and how he was able to escape with them so many times. The Father’s family helped him be able to get away so many times.
That’s what my dad did was take by brother and I including all our passports and left on a plane to England where his family lived. My mom was unable to follow because my dad took her passport as well. My mom has to wait to get another passport. This series took place in the 60’s and mine was in the 70’s. I noticed that in this series the mom was told that the dad had gone on holidays and would be back. My mom was told the same thing knowing that we weren’t coming back.
There was no amber alert back then and in later years you got your photo on milk cartons for the missing children. This mom in the series they lived in Mexico and she was able to catch up with her children in France, and then Israel. He told the children lies about their mom. These children twice tried to run away and when their mom found them in Israel they were in this camp. She was allowed to visit them but the children at first were scared of her because of all the lies.
The judge ordered the Father to come back to Mexico for the trial as Israel didn’t have an extradition policy. I still couldn’t believe the Father was allowed to escort the children back to Mexico alone and again tried to hide the children. In the end he gave the children back to their mom and they didn’t see their father for 20 years. The daughter Tamara wrote the book ” No One Saw Us Leave.”
My mom looked for us at my dad’s parents house we were staying there apparently. The day she came with her family my dad has stashed us next door with the neighbors. I can’t imagine knowing your children are so close but you can’t see them. The other difference was the mom in the series at least had communication a small amount with the dad. My mom had nothing for 12 years. My dad took my brother and I to Ireland and I never saw her again for 12 years. I was almost 2 when we left and my brother was 5 and a half.
My mom had private detectives looking for us. My dad has run again to Ireland. That’s where I grew up. In the series the dad looked after his children. In our case we experienced the worst abuse possible.
I remember my dad sitting me on his lap one day and telling me that he took us because my mom was mentally ill and she couldn’t look after us.
My mom never stopped looking for us. 12 years later my dad wrote my mom and sent photos and said she could see us, but if she tried to take us he would leave and never come back. Ireland similar to Israel does not have an extradition policy. We both eventually came back to Canada to live.
As I write this yes this upsets me and my dad was never prosecuted. I could have done that, but I had 5 younger siblings and I didn’t want them to grow up with no parents. So both him and my mom were never prosecuted.
Nine years ago I forgave my dad and step mom for everything that happened to me as a child. That’s why now I stand for children/ animals who have no voices. That’s why I stand on the truth.
What happened to me as a child made me into the person that I am today. I am strong and I have massive passion for others especially those in trauma. My mom is the strongest person I know and I’m so glad that she’s my mom. My step dad was the best dad I ever had. I always wanted in my life a dad to love me and he filled those shoes in more ways then one. My story had a happy ending and I’m blessed.
That’s why I wrote my memoirs on my blog. I didn’t want to write a book because my 5 siblings are still alive and I needed to protect them. Their dad and mom never treated them like my brother and I were treated. They were too young to know what happened or fully understand it. I’m happy with my life and I still get to share mine with two of my siblings. I’ve not seen them in 30 years. God’s in charge of that. Maybe one day we will reconcile. That has been my prayer and hope. ❤️
Beauty from Ashes. 