My Soapbox: Raising Awareness

[JamieMomX5]

I am deeply and truly grateful for the mothers on CafeMom who have taken time to educate us on Autism. I have 5 children and the chances are great that one of them will have some kind of special need or disability.

Now I want to raise a little awareness of my own. As a victim of child abuse, this is a subject near to me. Back then, children didn't have a voice. We must work harder to give them the voice and chance to be heard.

There are many forms and many ways in which a child can be abused. There is physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. Abuse can come from a parent, caregiver, even other children.

Man Beats 2-year-old Girl to Death with Video Game Controller

Parents Starve son to Death

16 year-old being held on child abuse charges

There are many, many more news articles on abuse. We see it on the net, the tv, hear about it on the radio.

What can we do?

A parent's FIRST priority, even before food and clothing, is the SAFETY of their child. Significant others, babysitters, daycare centers - make sure they are reputable, trustworthy and will protect your child to the best of their ability.

Listen! How many children tell and no one believes them, or they are brushed off?? Children RARELY make this stuff up!

Teach your kids right! Children are raping other children, beating other children, killing other children! It all starts at home!!

Child abuse prevention and awareness is not just for the month of April - it is for every month of the year!

http://www.childabuse.org/

http://www.childabuse.com/

http://www.preventchildabuse.org

Let's not just TALK about doing something - let's DO it!!

[auntiegill]

Apr. 15, 2008 at 1:32 PM Thank you for sharing! I think it is so important to bring about awareness about things that are totally preventable! And as for the abusers, may God have mercy on their souls because I know I can't....

[Hoomom]

Apr. 15, 2008 at 3:02 PM

Thank you.  I think it should also be noted that most abuse happens inside the family.  I am so paranoid I've never left my children with a babysitter-------and my oldest is eight years old!  Actually, I'm pretty tired and would love a break, but I had some "bad" babysitters when I was younger, and I just can't take the risk with my own kids. 

Anyway, thank you for sharing.   

[Rachel345]

Apr. 15, 2008 at 3:33 PM Awareness is good, and your cause is MORE than worthy. Thank you for sharing. Keep hopping up on your soapbox. :-)

[busywithkids]

Apr. 15, 2008 at 3:41 PM Thank you for the reminder!

[JamieMomX5]

Apr. 15, 2008 at 4:31 PM

Also - it's sick and sad that we can see videos of abuse on Youtube. There's this whole thing on the news about some cheerleaders beating the snot out of another girl, videotaping it, then putting it on youtube and their myspace pages.

(Original Poster)

[tracelle]

Apr. 15, 2008 at 7:51 PM I like your suggestion to actually do something about this issue not just talk.   

[rmmom801]

Apr. 15, 2008 at 8:22 PM Very Important Topic for Awareness - it has to be all about the kids - we gotta do what we can to protect them - thanks so much for sharing with us!!!

[TTMTC]

Apr. 15, 2008 at 10:07 PM Thank you for taking the time to post this. Your right the information is important.

[Sylbroyles]

Apr. 16, 2008 at 10:08 PM this week is Victim Awareness or right week.  I can't remember exactly.  but we had a bake sale and donate the proceeds to a local charity helping victims.