Your Child and Dating Violence..

Greetings Moms and Dads!

If you have a pre-teen or teen in school you are entering into a busy time of the school year. Athletic events, Homecoming, Sweetheart Swirl, and Prom are just a few important milestones in your child’s life that are more than likely filling up your already full calendar! This is a special as well as vulnerable stage for your child as they inch their way towards the world of adulthood.

Lucky for my parents I had no one to date, so this was a non eventful stage in my development! “Romantic” relationships are beginning to form.  Has your child mentioned that special “crush” they have on a particular boy or girl, or have you repeatedly heard them mentioning a particular name?  Have you opened and kept open the door of communication regarding their first “romance”?  Have you given any thought to preparing them for how to respectfully interact with that potential “crush”, how not to, and informed them of the signs of an unhealthy relationship choice no matter how immature it might seem?  I promise you-it’s time to do so.

Are you as a parent aware of the types of abuse? They are physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and psychological, and it’s important to know males are just as vulnerable as females. According to the CDC the most vulnerable age range of such violence is between 16-24 yrs old and the actual acts of violence begin between the ages of 12-18 years.  I hope you can see why I feel the importance of talking to you regarding this all too prevelent act of social illness.

Just a few of the effects victims experience are:  increased useage of alcoholism and drugs, high risk sexual behaviors, girls are 6 times more likely to become pregnant as well as twice as likely to get a sexually transmitted disease as well as ongoing domestic violence.

As if these facts aren’t alarming enough, according to the CDC approximately 81% of parents do not believe teen dating violence is an issue or admit their lack of awareness if it is! In addition, approximately 60% do not know the very warning signs. My question to you is, if you don’t know as their parent how can the child be informed if they haven’t been taught?  Think about it.  As a result, approximately 33% of teen victims don’t tell anyone and carry this dangerous secret.

My book “Single And ApParent” shares information on domestic violence and I hope you either have read it, or will order your copy after you read this.  If you would like to book me for a speaking engagement on this topic or any other family related issue let me know here or msg my FB page.

What questions or comments do you have?

Peace~