Shannon Butler-Lacoot

Children long to feel needed, protected, safe, secure, loved and admired. Growing up I felt none of these.

Raised by a single mother with mental health issues. In and out of the foster care system. Molested at the age of seven up until the age of 11.

I made my way through some very difficult times with no support system. I later became a single parent by the age of 16.

Feeling lonely, helpless and abandoned, I looked elsewhere for what I did not receive at home. As a student, making people laugh and gift giving was a “quick fix” for what I longed for, including admiration and acceptance.

I made some huge sacrifices that put my freedom at risk. These behaviors spilled over into my adult life, a manifestation of serious issues that were not addressed as a child or young adult.

Unable to erase my past, I am haunted with the fact that I made some poor choices and huge sacrifices, ones I can do absolutely nothing about.

But today, with therapy under my belt and my Christian faith by my side, I am moving forward and being an example to young adults of what not to do.