The definition of child abuse for our child within is simple:

The definition of child abuse for our child within is simple: whenever the spirit of the child is disrespected the child is abused. Abuse of the spirit of the child can take many forms, from the overt forms of child abuse that conventional society is able to accept – such as overt sexual abuse, physical violence and the extremes of neglect – to whole realms of abuse that fall below society’s radar and are considered normal and healthy forms of friendship and parenting. Our Child Within still retains the needs of childhood, and where we fail to meet these needs – whether society notices or cares or even bats an eye – our child within once more ends up abused.