Clandestine abuse

Okay kiddo, imagine if you had a secret that you didn't want anyone to find out about. Sometimes, grown-ups also have secrets that they don't want to tell anyone, but some of these secrets can be really bad and hurtful to other people. That's what clandestine abuse is all about.

Clandestine abuse means that someone is being hurt or abused by another person, but it's all happening secretly. They might not even realize that what's happening to them is wrong or bad, because the abuser is really good at hiding it. This can happen in all sorts of situations, like in families or relationships, or even in places like schools or workplaces.

For example, imagine that your mom's boyfriend is always really nice to you when your mom is around, but as soon as she leaves, he starts yelling at you and making you feel scared. He might also make you promise not to tell your mom what he's doing, by saying something like "it's our little secret."

This is the kind of behavior that's called clandestine abuse because it's all happening in secret, and the abuser is trying to keep it that way. It can be really hard for the person being abused to ask for help, because they might be too scared, or they might not even realize that what's happening is wrong.

That's why it's important for grown-ups who see signs of clandestine abuse to step in and offer help to the person who's being hurt. Remember, it's never okay for someone to hurt another person, even if they say it's a secret.