Protecting Your Child

If you desire to protect your child from (word omitted) abuse, you need to care for the child. An infant has no voice to tell you what has happened to them. A toddler doesn't have the vocabulary to explain or question. A young child is afraid and guilt ridden. A young child is often flattered or made to believe that no one will believe them if they tell. An adolescent wants to think they are grown-up and then can't believe they let themselves be taken advantage of. A teenager is embarrassed and will try to convince herself that it was "no big deal". To add to a child's confusion, sometimes her body responds with feelings of pleasure.

God's intention according to Genesis chapter 2 was for one man and one woman to come together and become one flesh. Any (word omitted) contact outside of marriage violates the one flesh relationship.

Knowing what to do about nurserycare, daycare, and baby sitters is a major concern. The first thing I would say is pray about the need. Plan ahead as much as possible. Remember that there is a difference being want and need. You may want to spend a day shopping with a friend but you probably don't need to spend a day shopping.

When I look back I see things that I would do differently if I were starting over again.

• Infants are portable, keep them with you.
• Never leave a child in a Church nursery that only has one adult attending the children.
• When working outside the home, arrange hours that co-inside with school hours. Or work a shift that is an alternate of Dad's so the child is with a parent.
• Ask a grandparent or aunt to watch the child for occasional babysitting.
• If you must leave a child in daycare, ask for referrences. Check the referrences. Make sure the daycare is certified. If your job doesn't pay enough for certified daycare, you aren't making enough to be worth working outside of the home.

Some children act up when they know that Mom is leaving them at daycare or with a sitter, but don't assume that it's just separation anxiety. If Susie says I don't want you to go or I don't want to stay here, ask her why? Most young children will only say I don't want to. When you ask why, they are likely to give you a reason. You will have to keep asking questions without telling them the answers until you are certain of the reason they said I don't want to in the first place. Remember, a child that is (word omitted) innocent will not tell you about being touched or hurt in an abusive way because they have no knowledge of such activity. Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

If your background includes a history of being abused, do not ever leave your child with the person that abused you. As Christian we want to believe that when Uncle George got saved or when daddy got right with God that all abusive tendancies ended. The truth is that every human has a sin nature and is continually tempted by Satan to sin. You would not leave a bottle of cooking wine in the kitchen of a saved drunk. You would not leave money for a saved thief. Why would you leave an innocent child with a saved child molester?

This page has been displayed 8 times this month, 1411 times since January 2, 2005 .