The Invisibles

Change lanes... Pick up your phone... Look through your purse... Push buttons on the radio... Speed through an intersection... DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT.  If I do one of those things, they won't bother me.

If I don't look, I won't see the sadness. If I don't look, I won't get that sinking feeling in my stomach. If I don't look, I won't see desperation. If I don't look, I won't see pain. If I don't look, they won't see me. If I don't look, I won't see them.

We avoid what is disturbing to us to an extent that we no longer see it. The beggar on the corner doesn't effect us in any other way other than to think to continue to avoid them. Better yet, our minds come up with labels that justify our actions to alleviate the guilt of avoiding someone else's plight. The refugees that flee to our country are illegal and we shouldn't let them in, the pan handler will only use my money for drugs, I don't have time to so and get food for him because I'll be made to my job, I pay taxes so should they...

Love... Love freely, love equally, love with abandon.

Sept 11

Today I remember that my world got a whole lot bigger... I understood better that my life would be affected by things that didn't touch me in my small town at the age of 17. I cried for people I didn't know, I was scared of people I didn't know, and I mourned people I didn't know. I pause every year to remember the victims and their families, I cannot begin to understand their pain. Most of us probably can't. In short, it changed me, probably changed a lot of us...

Stranger Danger

Is pretty much BS.  Sorry... To those who swear by it. There is some truth to it, no your children shouldn't go anywhere with someone they don't know, so let's teach them that. But  please... Don't forget to talk to them about non-stranger danger.

It's not a comfortable conversation... Have it anyway. We sat down with our kiddo together and we've had the conversation separately too. Its much more likely to have a type of abuse by someone they know, trust, even love. That means they need to know that no matter what or who, they can tell. If Daddy touches you, tell Mommy, I won't be mad. If Mommy touches you, tell Daddy, I won't be mad. So on and so forth. It sucks... Really bad... But 1 out of 5 girls are victims of child sexual abuse and 60% of those were committed by someone in their social circle... And most commonly assaulted between the ages of 7 - 13. 

Scary... Talk to your kids... Ensure them they have a safe place.... And that no matter what they are told you won't be mad.

All statistics were pulled from the following website and more information can be found there as well.

http://www.victimsofcrime.org/media/reporting-on-child-sexual-abuse/child-sexual-abuse-statistics