There are numbers that keep me up at night. The mortgage payment…the cars…future cost of college tuition…co-pays…hospital bills…oh the list could go on and on.
But there are other numbers that stay in my head morning, noon and night. They’re disturbing…disgusting…sad. And what’s bothersome is this: people don’t want to talk about it. It’s uncomfortable for them…there’s the “not in my house” mentality.
Here’s the truth: we need to talk about it. Because if we don’t, the problem will only get worse.
BEFORE THE AGE OF 18 —
ONE IN FOUR GIRLS WILL BE THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.
ONE IN FIVE BOYS WILL BE THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.
Let me type that out again…
BEFORE THE AGE OF 18 —
ONE IN FOUR GIRLS WILL BE THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.
ONE IN FIVE BOYS WILL BE THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.
This isn’t happening on the other side of town…
This isn’t happening in another neighborhood…
This isn’t happening in another school…
This isn’t happening “anywhere” except Iowa…
THIS IS HAPPENING.
It’s in our neighborhoods…in our schools…in our cities…it’s happening.
The recent #METOO movement finally gave women their voices back. Women were finally feeling empowered to speak up against the sexual harassment and abuse they have endure for years. Women sat in silence out of fear of the repercussions.
Let me be blunt: there are SO MANY children in our community who are SUFFERING in silence. They are being abused.
Our children need to be heard.
Our children need to be protected.
Our children need to know what is ACCEPTABLE and what is NOT ACCEPTABLE…
And our children need to know THEIR VOICE will always be their strongest weapon.
Why do we wait until something bad happens to a child to react? We, as adults, have the power to PREVENT a child from suffering.
Look, I get it. I had the “white picket fence” mentality. Abuse doesn’t happen in my home…my children are loved…they are happy…so I don’t need some to worry about it. Well look at it this way…my kids always have presents under the Christmas tree. But I still buy presents for kids who don’t have any gifts. Make sense yet?? We live in a wonderful community where people make sure there is never a child who goes without at the holidays. So WHY ARE WE NOT MAKING SURE CHILDREN HAVE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE CHILDHOODS EVERY DAY??! Pardon the all CAPS and in bold but seriously…take a minute and let that marinate.
So when people stop and ask, “Now that you’re out of TV…what do you do? What is Family & Children’s Council all about?” Every day is about protecting children…making sure they have happy, healthy and safe childhoods. Making sure their family is STRONG.
There is nothing more important than that.
ONE IN FOUR GIRLS.
ONE IN FIVE BOYS.
Let’s start talking. Let’s start preventing. Let’s start investing.
#KIDSTOO