Mother Mia is here again with another letter to you. This time, we are in serious waters, listen, learn and apply. There has been too much heartache as a result of negligence in this matter.
Dear Son,
As a mother, my heart swells with pride to see you embrace your new role as a father. The love and dedication you demonstrate is truly inspiring. However, there is a dark side to parenthood that we must acknowledge – the threat of sexual predators.
As parents, it is our responsibility to protect our children from harm. Sexual predators can be anyone, they often use subtle tactics to gain the trust of vulnerable children. For instance, in parts of Africa and Asia, some predators pose as “uncles” or family friends, often giving gifts and playing with children to gain their confidence. They may also use online platforms to target and groom children, exploiting their trust and vulnerability. This is a topic that is often difficult to discuss, but it is important that we do so in order to keep our family safe.
One of the most important steps we can take to protect our family from sexual predators is to educate ourselves and our children about the signs of dangerous situations. These can include adults who spend a lot of time alone with a child, engage in sexually explicit conversation or behavior, or try to isolate a child from others. A red flag is any person who regularly mentions private body parts or sexual activities in the presence of minors. Or any person who likes to watch explicit content, shows them to young children and chides them when they turn away. Such persons usually accuse minors of being provocative, even when this is obviously false.
It is also important to teach our children about body safety and encourage them to speak up if someone touches them inappropriately or makes them feel uncomfortable. We must create a safe environment where our children feel comfortable talking to us about anything and know that we will always listen and believe them.
As a new father, it is also important to monitor your child’s online activity and set appropriate limits on their screen time. Keeping your computer in a common area of the house where you can see what your child is doing online is a good practice.
Unfortunately, there have been many real-life examples of sexual predators taking advantage of minors, such as the case of former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar or Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State football coach, the recent case of a schoolteacher who was arrested for allegedly defiling a 15-year-old girl in Ghana. Another notable case is that of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, which has been documented in various countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and the Philippines. Other cases involve trafficking of children for sexual purposes, which is a widespread problem in many countries in these regions.
If you or your child find yourselves in a dangerous situation with a sexual predator, it is important to have an action plan.
1. Get away from the predator as quickly and safely as possible.
2. Tell a trusted adult what happened as soon as possible.
3. Seek medical attention if necessary.
4. Report the predator to the police or other authorities.
In summary, here are some steps you can take:
1. Educate yourself and your family about the signs of sexual predators and dangerous situations. Make sure your children know what to do if they feel uncomfortable or scared.
2. Teach your children about body safety and encourage them to speak up if someone touches them inappropriately or makes them feel uncomfortable.
3. Create a safe environment where your children feel comfortable talking to you about anything. Make sure they know that you will always listen and believe them.
4. Monitor your children’s online activity and set appropriate limits on their screen time. Keep your computer in a common area of the house where you can see what your children are doing online.
5. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If you suspect that someone is a predator, report them to the authorities immediately to prevent further incidents and hold perpetrators accountable.
6. Encourage your child to speak up and trust their instincts.
Remember, the best way to protect our family from sexual predators is to be informed, vigilant, and proactive. By educating ourselves and our children, monitoring their online activity, and trusting our instincts, we can help keep our family safe from harm. Reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities can also help prevent future incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.
As your mother, it is my duty to ensure that you have all the information you need to keep your family safe. I implore you to take this issue seriously and to educate yourself further on the steps you can take to protect your child from harm.
With all my love,
Mother Mia
