Earlier in the month, Paula from Beauty Through Imperfection shared about her past and spoke openly on the topic of child abuse.
This is not an easy topic to speak about, but it is so very important that we do.
Often times as a Stay At Home Mom, I’m thrown the question, “Don’t you feel like you shelter your kids?” My answer is a happy, “Yes”, but I also am sure to discuss “scary” topics with them in the safety of our home. I realize my children are not always going to be with me, I won’t always be able to protect them.
While I was very blessed with an amazing set of Godly parents, my first husband was not. I believe due to his upbringing he did not know any other way to handle things.
When it was just he and I, I put up with all of it. I felt like I had “made my bed” and had to lie in it.
Once my son was born, the abuse didn’t stop, and it began to be directed toward him. That is where I drew the line.
Our children are a gift from God, and we are responsible for taking care of them. Protecting them from harm is one important part of our responsibilities as parents.
Abuse, takes on many forms; physical, mental, verbal, manipulative, sexual, etc.
We need to ensure our children are aware (at the appropriate ages) of all types of abuse.
The world we live in is not going to get any better, we must enable our children to be alert at all times to dangers they may run into.
Take time to think and pray about the right time to have these conversations with your children.
The world is a battle zone, don’t send them without the appropriate weapons.
Thanks for sharing this on WholeHearted Home last week.
Absolutely! 🙂 Blessings!
Hi,
I am following you from Winsome Wednesdays. I agree totally that we need to share the “world” with our children so they will be ready to do battle (a battle of the mind will come).
Blessings,
Janis
Amen! Thank you for stoppin by and for following! Blessings!
Such a hard topic. I just had a great conversation about this with my 13 year old son. His exposure to abused kids has really created empathy and compassion for others within him. Knowing when to shelter our kids from this information and determining when they are ready for it is a tough call! Thanks for sharing! And for the link up! Blessings to you, Rachael @ Inking the Heart
Yes, timing is tough as each child grows and matures differently. This is something that each parent much address when they KNOW their child is ready. Thanks for stoppin by and linkin up! Blessings!
Thanks for the party. Hope you’re having a nice week.
Blessings,
Mrs. Sarah Coller
You’re very welcome! Thanks for linkin up hun! Blessings sis!
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for stoppin by and linkin up! Blessings!
Hi Misty! I’m glad you’re addressing the issue of child abuse. I’ll have to go back and look for the post you mentioned. I wrote a piece a few years ago called “Child Discipline or Child Abuse?” and put it in a linky above. I’ll also link the ones I did on domestic violence and sexual abuse this past year, but here are the links below too.
http://watchtheshepherd.blogspot.com/2010/02/child-discipline-or-child-abuse.html
http://watchtheshepherd.blogspot.com/2012/10/we-cant-ignore-domestic-violence.html
http://watchtheshepherd.blogspot.com/2013/01/abuse-thrives-in-culture-of-shame-and.html
The entire category of abuse in families is here:
http://watchtheshepherd.blogspot.com/search/label/Abuse%20in%20Families
Unfortunately, this issue is not just “out there in the world” but also in the church and the Christian home schooling movement.
Grace and peace,
Virginia Knowles
That is so very true, many things that used to be “in the world” are now in our churches and Christian homes. Oh how we need the Lord! Thanks for sharing your links to such important posts! Blessings!