July 23, 2010
QuietStorm - I Cry
July 18, 2010
Woman's boyfriend tortures 4-year-old daughter
More than once on this blog, I've posed the question to parents, "Do you know who's watching your child?" Headlines like the one above require that parents be more diligent about scrutinizing the people with whom they leave their children for any significant amount of time.
In Johnston County, NC, a 4-year-old girl is in critical condition because of head trauma, injuries indicative of sexual abuse, bites, and bruises and abrasions that cover her small body. She was left in the care of her mother's boyfriend of six months while the woman reported to the Army Reserves for training in New Mexico.
Seasoned investigators involved in the case stated that they had never seen such pervasive abuse before. Jonathan Douglas Richardson, 21, of Smithfield, is being held in the Johnston County jail on $1 million bond for felony child abuse with severe bodily injury.
The child's mother was contacted and she returned home.
Usually, I try not to be too judgmental, but not in this case. The woman moved into a BARN in the back of this man's parents' home with her 4-year-old daughter after knowing him for six months. What?! Are you kidding me? Where is the little girl's father? Why was this child not left in the care of her father? He must not have been involved in his daughter's life. Shame on him. I haven't walked in this mother's shoes so I don't want to be too harsh but her focus should have been on what's best for her daughter. Her judgment of this man's character seems to be extremely lacking. Personally, I would never leave a female child with a male who is not her father and I would be hesitant to leave her with the father for more than a few minutes because of the amount and type of data on child abuse. Sadly, most children are abused by someone they know and should be able to trust.
In fairness to men, I should point out that some women sexually abuse children as well. It's ludicrous that somehow society sees this as a lucky situation when it involves a young male with an older female. It is still abuse and is as confusing, detrimental, demoralizing, and devastating as it is for a young girl. We should be just as outraged when it happens to a boy as when it happens to a girl. Children should be able to grow up without abuse of any kind scarring their lives.
Parents are the shield that protects their children from the world. Parents must ensure the safety of their children. It is a duty inherent with the decision to bring a child into the world.
Who did you leave your child with today? Can you trust him or her as much as you thought you could? Ask your child questions when you get them back into the safety of your care. Assure them that they can tell you if anyone has touched them inappropriately or said or done anything that made them feel uncomfortable or afraid, even if the person has told them not to tell. Sometimes children are threatened about what will happen if they tell and sometimes they are lulled into a false belief that what the perpetrator is doing to them is okay, normal, and just their innocent little secret. As the parent and protector, you have to keep an open dialogue with your child and be more convincing than the bad guy so that your child trusts you instead of the person who is harmful.
Parents, your child's protection, safety, security are based on the choices you make. Make them the right choices as often as you can.
Links to child safety websites:
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Resources for Parents & Guardians
Polly Klaas Foundation: Keeping Children Safe (this site offers a free child safety kit)
America's Security Products Mall: Child Safety Devices
In Johnston County, NC, a 4-year-old girl is in critical condition because of head trauma, injuries indicative of sexual abuse, bites, and bruises and abrasions that cover her small body. She was left in the care of her mother's boyfriend of six months while the woman reported to the Army Reserves for training in New Mexico.
The child's mother was contacted and she returned home.
Usually, I try not to be too judgmental, but not in this case. The woman moved into a BARN in the back of this man's parents' home with her 4-year-old daughter after knowing him for six months. What?! Are you kidding me? Where is the little girl's father? Why was this child not left in the care of her father? He must not have been involved in his daughter's life. Shame on him. I haven't walked in this mother's shoes so I don't want to be too harsh but her focus should have been on what's best for her daughter. Her judgment of this man's character seems to be extremely lacking. Personally, I would never leave a female child with a male who is not her father and I would be hesitant to leave her with the father for more than a few minutes because of the amount and type of data on child abuse. Sadly, most children are abused by someone they know and should be able to trust.
In fairness to men, I should point out that some women sexually abuse children as well. It's ludicrous that somehow society sees this as a lucky situation when it involves a young male with an older female. It is still abuse and is as confusing, detrimental, demoralizing, and devastating as it is for a young girl. We should be just as outraged when it happens to a boy as when it happens to a girl. Children should be able to grow up without abuse of any kind scarring their lives.
Parents are the shield that protects their children from the world. Parents must ensure the safety of their children. It is a duty inherent with the decision to bring a child into the world.
Who did you leave your child with today? Can you trust him or her as much as you thought you could? Ask your child questions when you get them back into the safety of your care. Assure them that they can tell you if anyone has touched them inappropriately or said or done anything that made them feel uncomfortable or afraid, even if the person has told them not to tell. Sometimes children are threatened about what will happen if they tell and sometimes they are lulled into a false belief that what the perpetrator is doing to them is okay, normal, and just their innocent little secret. As the parent and protector, you have to keep an open dialogue with your child and be more convincing than the bad guy so that your child trusts you instead of the person who is harmful.
Parents, your child's protection, safety, security are based on the choices you make. Make them the right choices as often as you can.
Links to child safety websites:
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Resources for Parents & Guardians
Polly Klaas Foundation: Keeping Children Safe (this site offers a free child safety kit)
America's Security Products Mall: Child Safety Devices
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