My 6-Year-Old Daughter Said, ‘Mommy, Grandpa Told Me That If I Let Him Touch Me Wherever He Wants, He’ll Take Me to Restaurants Every Week and Buy Me Presents.’ I Froze in Horror. I immediately rushed to my father’s house to demand an explanation. But when I heard his answer, my legs nearly gave out beneath me…

We stopped insisting that she kiss relatives when greeting them.

And most importantly, we started listening more carefully when she told us how she felt.

Six months have passed since that day.

Lily is much more comfortable now.

There are still days when certain types of touch bother her, but she has learned to explain clearly what she wants and what she doesn’t want.

One Sunday, my father came to visit.

Lily ran toward him.

But Grandpa stopped and waited.

“May I give you a hug, sweetheart?”

My daughter smiled.

“Today I want one, Grandpa!”

And she wrapped her arms around him.

My father began crying.

So did I.

At that moment, Lily looked at me and said:

“Mommy, do you know what the best thing is?”

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“Now, when I say ‘I don’t want to,’ nobody gets upset.”

I hugged my daughter—with her permission.