Child Abuse - Protecting Those Who Can't Protect Themselves

Image : http://www.flickr.com

A child is the most precious gift that you will ever receive. There is nothing in the world like having a tiny version of yourself. I learned this right after my daughter came into the world. It shocked me how similar we appeared. While, on some levels, this may be a little self-indulgent, mostly it's just about caring for and loving someone else even more that you do yourself. And what would you say about parents who take a different road? There are those who are not physically able to bear children and provide them with appropriate care. Clearly, people like this do exist. Without such people, we wouldn't have to worry about child abuse.

I frequently wonder how we can work to protect children from abuse, not only our own children, but also the children all around the world who are not so lucky. Do you know the signs that indicate child abuse? Would you recognize an abused child if you encountered one at your child's school or at a group function? This is not an easy question to answer. Honestly most abusers will find ways to conceal the damage they have done to the person they are abusing. They may whisper their threats or dress their children in clothes that conceal their wounds.

It is very simple for parents to influence children, and these kids, more often than not, will obey their parents, even if their obedience constantly harms them. For this reason, it is up to us to educate our children and community about child abuse. A benefit of today's society is that the schools are providing education about this important topic. At times, what a teacher says is all that they possess. When their parents are bad people, who is a child supposed to trust?

A great book to read regarding violence, assault, and child abuse is "Protecting the Gift." Author Gavin De Becker elaborates on all sorts of violence, potential violence, threats, body language, and all-round survival. The writer instructs the reader to trust their instincts and never make excuses or overlook it. Our natural born tools and senses are more important to our survival than many realize. We need to accept this and use these for our benefit. If you think you know someone who suffers from child abuse, investigate further or contact the authorities. You should be thorough now rather than have regrets down the road. In fact, when children are involved, it's your responsibility to find out what is going on. We have to protect those who can't protect themselves.