Chip StClair - Hero to all the “Children of the Secret”

By Cherry Simpson
As I began to read Chip St Clair’s book The Butterfly Garden I found I couldn’t put it down. It’s a story, you wish wasn’t true, about a little boy whose life was hell on earth. It’s a miracle Chip survives his life on the run with his neglectful, murderous monster of a father. He not only overcomes the pain, the sorrow, and the near death experiences, but Chip fights to put killer dad back in jail where he had escaped from, for the murder of a child. Chip then goes on to investigate this child killer. Was this monster, Michael Grant, really his father or had Chip been kidnapped? Chips birthday was August 1 it was also the day Michael D. Grant stomped, kicked and pummeled the two little Ingersol boys. Killing Scott age 3 and leaving Tommy age 5 barely clinging to life.

The book unfolds with murder and abuses so dark, the reader fears at any moment the child might be lost. I wanted to help him and I heard him say to me, “I have a terrible secret?”

In my mind’s eye I could see this little boy, with sad eyes and mousy brown hair, who would stand in a way that made him smaller. The pit of my stomach ached at every foul name thrown at him, when he was hit I flinched, I was afraid for him each time he hid and tears fell down my cheeks. But then I began to cheer for him as he escaped death; I was amazed at how courageously he went on.



Chip found relief by losing himself in reading, music and art. His favorite poem was Invictus by William Ernest Henley. Chip credits this poem as part of what saved him from drowning in Lake Michigan after his father had thrown him into the cold water abandoning him to drown. He was only ten years old and though he was a good swimmer at the local pool he’d never seen such deep dark swirling water. Yes, I was praying for him, even though I knew Chip is alive and well. I couldn’t help but thank God for saving this little boys life.

In a wonderful narrative voice Chip takes you into the life of an abused child beyond all imagination, escaping his childhood prison into his adult life, where he is Master of his fate and Captain of his soul.

In reading his book Chip St Clair has captured my heart and I now have the understanding of child abuse from the child’s perspective. Children innately love their parents and are confused when they abuse them - the children believe they have somehow caused their own abuse. Sadly at the cost of the child, many families do whatever it takes to preserve their "dirty little secret."

Chip now dedicates his life to helping abused and neglected children as founder and executive director of the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation that helps children heal through the creative arts and literature.

St. Clair is also director of the Michigan chapter of Justice for Children, where he has made tremendous strides in aiding children caught up in the nation's distressed child welfare system. He's worked on legislation with father turned advocate Marc Klaas and the Klaas Kids Foundation.

This summer put his book, The Butterfly Garden, on your list of must-reads. Make sure your library has it and the schoolteachers are aware of it. Become an abused child’s hero and help end the cycle of violence.


A video anthology of TV interviews by author and child abuse activist Chip St Clair, telling his remarkable story as background to his book, The Butterfly Garden (HCI Books)

Making a Mark in Life

By Cherry Simpson

Being a victim of crime leaves it’s mark on one’s life. Crime is on the nightly news, written about in books and on Blog Talk Radio. But you can’t walk into the Hallmark Store and find a card that says Sorry for your Rape, or Sympathy for the Murder of your Child.

Now-a-days almost nothing is taboo in conversation, except it seems the subject of being a victim of crime. Many victims hide as they are ashamed and are often blamed for the crime committed against them. 

The Crime Clock tells us it happens every 18 seconds, so we don’t have to look hard or very far to find a victim of crime, it does not discriminate, touching all ages, genders, creeds, and races. Whether it be murder, rape, assault, child or elder abuse, DV, or theft. Victim’s are in your church, your class at school, at work, in your neighborhood, even in your family.

When my daughter became a victim. I looked for someone - anyone who could understand and help. I sought help from a therapist a wonderful man whom we lovingly call Dr J, he helped us through many frightening and difficult times. With the ever growing crime statistics and the massive increase in human suffering Dr J will never be out of work.  He explained it’s difficult for those not effected by crime to have empathy and sympathy for victims. 

I’d like to see that change and I have often thought education to be the best way to do that. 

But how?

Earning High Marks

My husband, Larry Simpson, is a university professor, and he showed me a way. 

He teaches art and in one of his drawing classes he developed an assignment in which he had his students draw themselves and what their relationships are to the rest of their family. The drawings were large in size 4’ x 6’ and were the beginning of teaching more than just how to draw. 

In one drawing a young woman depicts a house which has a tree growing through it, like a weed, destroying all in it. The tree represents her alcoholic father. In each room is another family member, they are all being hurt by this monster. 

Another student was from Nigeria and he draws a hut, in which lies his entire family, all brutally murdered the student has drawn himself running away. He is the Nigerian silver metal winner of the Olympics. He says this is how he learned to run...for his life. 

Another woman from Iran also draws her family being killed and her new life in the US. 

There are numerous stories and drawings which tell the stories of murder, rape, child abuse, addiction, domestic violence, the list gets longer each semester. The class has grown in popularity, many students request over-rides. 

I have been very impressed by the stories my husband shares with me. Many of the students have thanked my husband for the opportunity to share their stories.  Some students, fortunate enough to not have been victimized, thank him for opening their eyes. 

He’s not only teaching them how to draw but how to share the pain and suffering. They have given each other the gift of empathy and sympathy for victim’s of crime. 

It’s art therapy - making a mark in this world in a special way.