It's a Cruel World, Robbing Children of a Childhood
My mind is constantly analyzing, processing and thinking. This attribute can makes me very aware of connections to cause and affect situations. My poor kids probably roll their eyes and think- mom it's just something that happened at school, I don't need to have it always connected and applied to life. But that's what I do and I find multiple opportunities for short teachings. And I am grateful to see how to apply life experiences for my kiddos before they have them.
This year before school started, as he does every year, my husband gave each member of our family a blessing with the power of the priesthood. When my daughter who was starting 2nd grade received hers, my mind was stuck alert when he blessed her with protection and safety. It was strongly and clearly brought to my attention that young girls are sexually abused and my daughter could easily be in a dangerous situation. I needed to teach her how to protect herself. Talking about sex in a family can be very uncomfortable. I have always felt the need to bring it naturally into our discussions now while they are young so they know that this is a very open topic with mom and dad. And I want them to talk to us about it.
Conversations on pornography are already frequent at my house. My two oldest are boys and I take every chance that presents itself to teach them the dangers and damage from pornography. I realized after this blessing that conversations in my home needed to include sexual abuse. Recently I experienced a very clear opportunity to prepare my daughter. She has a very big heart and feels deeply. She is concerned with others feelings and is very loving. My daughter was inspired by Christmas cheer while I set up the decorations to make and give mom a gift. She found an orange Nike shoe box and taped it shut with the gift inside and placed it under the new tree. My oldest, my son, was already in a mood. He was not happy with the new tree I had just purchased. He didn't like the splintered, cashmere, ends because he thought it looked like it was flocked with snow. We had already had an incident with this mood as he placed on our front door a sign that stated, "Warning-my mom bought the ugliest Christmas tree." (Here I taught him the connection that his sign accomplished nothing but hurting feelings. That he could dislike the tree but that it was unacceptable to hurt someone for it.)
He was still very not in the Christmas mood when my daughter came to me upset. She was saddened because she didn't know what to do. She really wanted to help her oldest brother decorate his little tree in his room, but he told her she couldn't unless she removed her gift from under the tree.
My mind was instantly enlightened! Teach her about manipulation and to not let anyone take power over you. She was free to make choices and to get help. While assuring her to leave her heartfelt gift under the tree and that her brother was wrong to manipulate her and she had other opportunities to decorate trees, I warned her of similar situations to come. I explained to her that she will in jr high and high school have boys message her asking for naked pictures, and if she didn't comply they would threaten her. I told her that she always had the power and freedom to choose. To always get help and recognize the manipulation and that it was wrong. As a mother I try and hope with all my heart it is enough. That these moments where I unfortunately rob them of their childhood and alert them to adult dangers will be enough for them to recognize the situation and see the path to safety and peace.
This year before school started, as he does every year, my husband gave each member of our family a blessing with the power of the priesthood. When my daughter who was starting 2nd grade received hers, my mind was stuck alert when he blessed her with protection and safety. It was strongly and clearly brought to my attention that young girls are sexually abused and my daughter could easily be in a dangerous situation. I needed to teach her how to protect herself. Talking about sex in a family can be very uncomfortable. I have always felt the need to bring it naturally into our discussions now while they are young so they know that this is a very open topic with mom and dad. And I want them to talk to us about it.
Conversations on pornography are already frequent at my house. My two oldest are boys and I take every chance that presents itself to teach them the dangers and damage from pornography. I realized after this blessing that conversations in my home needed to include sexual abuse. Recently I experienced a very clear opportunity to prepare my daughter. She has a very big heart and feels deeply. She is concerned with others feelings and is very loving. My daughter was inspired by Christmas cheer while I set up the decorations to make and give mom a gift. She found an orange Nike shoe box and taped it shut with the gift inside and placed it under the new tree. My oldest, my son, was already in a mood. He was not happy with the new tree I had just purchased. He didn't like the splintered, cashmere, ends because he thought it looked like it was flocked with snow. We had already had an incident with this mood as he placed on our front door a sign that stated, "Warning-my mom bought the ugliest Christmas tree." (Here I taught him the connection that his sign accomplished nothing but hurting feelings. That he could dislike the tree but that it was unacceptable to hurt someone for it.)
He was still very not in the Christmas mood when my daughter came to me upset. She was saddened because she didn't know what to do. She really wanted to help her oldest brother decorate his little tree in his room, but he told her she couldn't unless she removed her gift from under the tree.
My mind was instantly enlightened! Teach her about manipulation and to not let anyone take power over you. She was free to make choices and to get help. While assuring her to leave her heartfelt gift under the tree and that her brother was wrong to manipulate her and she had other opportunities to decorate trees, I warned her of similar situations to come. I explained to her that she will in jr high and high school have boys message her asking for naked pictures, and if she didn't comply they would threaten her. I told her that she always had the power and freedom to choose. To always get help and recognize the manipulation and that it was wrong. As a mother I try and hope with all my heart it is enough. That these moments where I unfortunately rob them of their childhood and alert them to adult dangers will be enough for them to recognize the situation and see the path to safety and peace.
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