The teacher was headed to her car when the door to the birdcage opened and Tweety the parakeet soared from his cage. There were trees nearby, but Tweety never made it that far. As he flew up, a predatory bird swooped down . . .
Predators — whether birds or beasts of prey — are always watching.
I thought about the parakeet when I learned 7-year-old Somer Thompson of Orange Park, Fla., had vanished on her mile-long walk home from school. Some predatory person swooped her up and away. Thursday Somer’s body was found in a Georgia landfill near the Florida line.
Somer was even less equipped than that tiny parakeet to deal with life on life’s terms.
Somer was squabbling with another child and her sister told her to stop. Somer was upset and walked ahead of the group. She was not seen again, the Associated Press reported.
Perhaps Somer’s abductor had been watching the children come and go each day and waiting for an opportunity to swoop in. Or maybe the abductor simply made a move because the opportunity presented itself.
Whatever the case, we need to be mindful that someone is always watching children.
Because we know this, adults have to always be at the ready. Sleepovers, unsupervised play and even walking to and from school are more serious than anyone can recall. We have to essentially teach our children — without making them totally paranoid — to trust their feelings rather than their knowledge of a setting or person.
The following, from “Protecting Your Children: Advice from Child Molesters,” was developed and written by child molesters:
— I pay attention to your child and make him feel special.
— I present the appearance of being someone you and your family can trust.
— I get to know your child’s likes and dislikes.
— I go out of my way to buy gifts or treats your child will like.
— I isolate your child by involving him in fun activities so we can be together — alone.
— If you are a single parent, I may prey on your fears about your child lacking a father figure or a stable home life.
— If my career involves working with children, I may also choose to spend my free time helping children or taking them on “special outings.”
— I take advantage of your child’s natural curiosity about sex by telling “dirty” jokes, showing her pornography and by playing sexual games.
— I will probably know more about what kids like than you do: (music, clothing, etc.)
— I make comments like, “Anyone who molests a child should be shot!” or “Sexually abusing a kid is the sickest thing anyone can do.”
— If I am a parent, it is even easier for me to isolate, control and molest my own children. I can sexually abuse my children without my wife suspecting a thing. I gradually block communication between my children and their mother, and make it look like I’m the “good guy.”
— I may touch your child in your presence so that she thinks you are comfortable with the way I touch her.
The child molesters also say once a molester starts he/she will do everything possible to continue molesting.
Contact Kaffie Sledge at sledgekhyahoo.com
E-Mail
Print
@Nyx.CommentBody@