I was a child called ‘It’. 30 years on, this is what happened next
Dave Pelzer, author of the bestselling memoir “A Child Called ‘It’,” now finds joy in simple grandfatherly duties. These include outings to pumpkin patches and playground slides with his six-year-old grandson.
His past, however, remains a constant presence. The book, published thirty years ago, detailed the horrific abuse he suffered from his mother, who referred to him only as “It.”
He was finally removed from his home at age twelve, a day he still calls his “Rescue Day.” Pelzer later served in the Air Force and spent years writing before sharing his story.
The book’s global success brought intense scrutiny and fractured his family. Some relatives distanced themselves, while others publicly challenged his account.
The trauma profoundly affected his adult relationships, leading to three marriages. He acknowledges missing parts of his own son’s childhood due to his speaking travels.
Yet he has worked to build an honest and caring relationship with his son, and now cherishes his role as a grandfather.
Today, Pelzer focuses on healing through daily rituals like cooking and volunteering. His central goal is to break the cycle of abuse for future generations.
