Pardon
the interruption while I delve into a not-so-happy topic! I was headed
to Target this week (a frequent occurrence!) when I nearly burst into
tears in my minivan. I was listening to the radio when a commercial
came on that I will likely not forget. It was from an organization
called "American Humane Association" and was a very realistic and
emotional commercial about child abuse. The basic premise (complete
with hearing a parent yell and hit, and then hearing a child cry) was
"What would you do if you saw or heard a child being abused?"
This is unfortunately the reality that many kids face. I love kids so, so much and cannot imagine abusing a child or even seeing a child endure this! It breaks my heart to even know it occurs in some families. I hope that I would immediately step in and say something, and yet, what do you say? How do you handle this situation? I have never been in this situation--and hope never to be--but the website from American Humane Association addresses this very thing. They have tips on what to say and how to handle this very situation. My hope and prayer is that we never encounter this--but if we do, here are some ideas on how to intervene.
Step in and be an advocate for kids! Love 'em and protect them!
This is unfortunately the reality that many kids face. I love kids so, so much and cannot imagine abusing a child or even seeing a child endure this! It breaks my heart to even know it occurs in some families. I hope that I would immediately step in and say something, and yet, what do you say? How do you handle this situation? I have never been in this situation--and hope never to be--but the website from American Humane Association addresses this very thing. They have tips on what to say and how to handle this very situation. My hope and prayer is that we never encounter this--but if we do, here are some ideas on how to intervene.
Step in and be an advocate for kids! Love 'em and protect them!
That was a very informative link that you posted. I actually found myself in one of those situations when getting Ryan's 3-yr pictures taken. A lady was screaming at her son, and it was making everyone uncomfortable. At one point he went off to play with some toys and she stomped toward him, grabbed his arm, and dragged him across the floor right past me. In the process, she knocked over her little one-year-old (on accident), so I went over to help the little girl up. At that point I said, "Calm down--the pictures will turn out just fine." I felt so bad for the little boy--I wish I would've done more, but I have to admit I was afraid of her. Ever since then, I've thought of other things I should've done or said. Hopefully next time I will have the courage to intervene more for that child...
Posted by: Kristy | May 21, 2009 at 07:14 PM