Re:Parenting in the age of Paranoia: A Small Manifesto
by Mz on Sunday November 22, 2009 @09:30PM
(#956635)
I didn't tell my kids there are bad people in the world who want to do unspeakable things to them. I felt that would rob them of their innocence. Instead, I had a strict rule in my home that all affection had to be by mutual consent and 'no' means 'no'. It was their decision and they didn't need to justify it. If they didn't want a 'goodnight' kiss or hug on a particular night, no big deal. If anyone refused to take 'no' for an answer, they were to come get me. I had to back up this promise only once. My kids extrapolated for themselves that this meant they were entitled to enforce the rules with physical force if necessary when mom was unavailable (ie when they were in public school). I didn't hear such stories until many years later. They never thought it was anything that needed to be mentioned.
In short: If a kid has good boundaries and is empowered to act on their judgment without having to articulate why (which is often difficult even for adults and can be impossible for a kid), the odds are relatively small they will be victimized in some significant way. Even a toddler can decide if they want a goodnight kiss and can signal that by enthusiastically turning towards you and throwing their arms wide open or by turning their face away if the answer is 'no'. Respecting that instinct and cultivating it is tantamount to an invisible shield which will keep out most predators. And it's not just protection against potential sexual predation. It generalizes.
In short: If a kid has good boundaries and is empowered to act on their judgment without having to articulate why (which is often difficult even for adults and can be impossible for a kid), the odds are relatively small they will be victimized in some significant way. Even a toddler can decide if they want a goodnight kiss and can signal that by enthusiastically turning towards you and throwing their arms wide open or by turning their face away if the answer is 'no'. Respecting that instinct and cultivating it is tantamount to an invisible shield which will keep out most predators. And it's not just protection against potential sexual predation. It generalizes.