This week I'm on a mission that is something near and dear to my heart. November is Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta. My belief is that there should not be a month for Family Violence Prevention. It is something that should never happen in the first place. This week I'm going to focus on child abuse.
Child abuse is a stigma on society, yet often it is covered up. Children are threatened with worse punishment if they tell. Friends and neighbors who suspect child abuse turn a blind eye and do not report it.
Child abuse is one of the leading causes of suicide in teens and the third leading cause of death in adolescents world wide. Each year one million children are exposed to commercial sexual exploitation. These statistics are astounding and it is you and I that have to step up to the plate and assure that children are protected.
Sexual and physical abuse are not the only types of abuse that exist. Yelling, screaming, swearing and other forms of verbal abuse cut to the quick. Children who fall victim to this type of child abuse are scarred for life. Cuts, burns and bruises will heal, but the mental and verbal abuse do not. Scars are embedded deep into the child's brain and heart and even when they are old themselves, the scars remain for they will never heal.
Did you Know?
* The average age of entry into the sex trade in Canada is between 14 years of age in British Columbia and 17 in Ontario?
* A major reason that young people leave home is in order to escape from sexual and/or physical abuse in their family--the average age they leave is 15?
* Close to one-third of teens between ages 14 and 19 who participated in a Canadian study had experienced some kind of childhood abuse or neglect?
* Children and youth who received high levels of negative parenting practices (i.e. physical punishment, scolding and yelling) were more likely to be involved in aggressive behaviours?
* Those who are abused as children are more likely to abuse their own children and the children of others?
* One in four girls and one in five boys are sexually abused before they reach the age of 15?
Symptoms of abuse vary from deep depression to taunting, teasing, passive or aggressive behavior, meltdowns, constant joking, belittling others, bullying, obsessive compulsive behavior, lying, cheating, stealing, frustration, excessive worrying and so much more, including frequent bruising, black eyes, burns and other physical signs. Keep your eyes and your heart open to stop child abuse now.
Child abusers are most often known to the child. Women abuse children as well as men.
Please help me in my Mission4Monday this week. If you suspect a child is being abused either physically, mentally, emotionally or sexually, report it. It is your duty. Help Stop Child Abuse! ~Blessings, Mary~
My friend, this is such an important mission, bless you. I love your new look.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, thank you for posting about this Mary. Child abuse here in NZ is at al all time high, it's disgraceful!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, I love your new header and blog design done by Anni.... she is so talented!!! Thanks for posting about a serious matter..hugs, Baba
ReplyDeleteThis is an issue that should be posted about...and I agree, it should be brought to attention all the time, not just one month a year.
ReplyDeleteThere is another abuse that has caused concern for me since I worked with psychiatrists before retiring....not only the sexual and physical abuse, but I've witnessed many many times children of such a young age having problems coping when a parent [for some reason it's usually the father] that abuses the child with mental abuse also.
It's a sad world!!!
....and with that stated, try and have a HAPPY day. [sounds weird after I said 'it's sad'.]
Blessings Mary...I'm sorry you had a difficult time linking up and have not been able to sleep well. I have linked you up Mission 4 Monday.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you do not know my regular blog but it's there:
http://mazmagi.blogspot.com/2008/11/
super-sunday-in-dominican-republic.html
This is such an important issue & you have done such an excellent job
covering all it's atrocities and the various forms of child abuse.
I know so well the impact on children...the two I adopted were taken from their mother for neglect. That too is abuse! It is no wonder our children grow up with so many problems and vent them in school, against other children, against authority...and then in society and the cycle is unending.
Most overlook verbal abuse...but words said can stick forever in one's mind. Thank you so much for sharing & really covering this so well. Bless you & may you find rest & sleep soon...thank you for being such a vital part of Mission4Monday
This has always been one of MY missions in life, too, Mary.
ReplyDeleteYour new header and design is beautiful. Anni is a talented lady.
Thanks for coming by and wishing our country a good turnout for the election. I think it will be a record turnout ....this will be making history....
Oh, and I meant to say I didn't put enuf postage on the card, it came back, I put more on and mailed it again. You should be getting it at any time now.
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing this!!
Yes, this is a very important mission! May God protect these children. Thanks for sharing with us, Mary. I like your header :)
ReplyDeleteChild abuse is such a horrendous thing. I'm glad you posted about it.
ReplyDeleteI think your new header is about as cute as it gets. That Anni is so talented. I just went to her blog to mention how much I liked the new look of your blog but was so turned off by her post today that I left without commenting. I'll be glad when this election is over so hopefully things can get back to normal - or at least near normal.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Well written sure hope a lot will read this today and even if they don't comment.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on.
Thanks for the post Mary. We have had a couple of incidents of violence here. Not so much child violence, but teenager. Makes me wonder how many of these teens were abused when they were younger.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
ReplyDeleteMat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
God has very specific things to say about people that harm the children... HE is going to take revenge on the millions of babies that have died via abortion.... HE does not wink at sin....
Something we all should be more concerned about. Thanks for pointing it out Mary.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, dear Mary, child abuse should not exist at all!!! Unfortunately there is way too much of it and how anyone can hurt a child, physically or mentally, I'll never understand.
ReplyDeleteI so love your new banner...that Anni leaves me in awe with her computer talents:-) xoxo
Child abuse is a terrible thing to happen to a child, and it continues every day. I think they need stricter punishment for the guilty. Children are so innocent....I just don't understand how anyone could do that to a child. Then people wonder why there is so much crime and violence among the young people of today. My cats receive more love and care than most children do. Sad when I think of it that way. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
ReplyDelete(((((( HUGS ))))))