Dear Editor: Talk With Your Children About What Grooming Looks Like

Dear Editor,

Over the past few weeks, I’ve thought a lot about the issue of human trafficking, especially child trafficking and child sexual abuse in general.

I have followed Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad for a couple of years and was very excited to see the “Sound of Freedom" screening in many theaters across the country, and the huge turnout at our local Star Theater, thanks to Colton Anderson.

This film, and others, are so important, as they help all of us to understand how widespread this evil is and what our children could be at risk of encountering. For me, it is incomprehensible that another human is capable of this kind of harm to children. I believe it will take the awareness and action of all of us to stop it.

Also, we need to know this doesn’t just happen in other countries and by strangers. This happens in our own towns and families.

I have some direct experience of family sexual abuse and want to encourage parents, siblings, and extended family to be aware of what might happen, even in one’s own home. As tender and awkward as the topic is, it could save so much pain and damage to educate your children about what is “okay” behavior with a family member or friend and what is not; that it is okay and good to say “No,” and to tell a trusted adult if someone touches, does something, or says something that makes them uncomfortable. Children need to feel confident that they have value and worth, and that they get to use their voice to speak up, that just because someone is older does not mean they have to obey and do anything the other person says. Sexual abuse has been going on in families and amongst family friends for way too long without being addressed.

When this happened in my family, we didn’t know how to handle it, and had no tools for talking about it, for coming to grips with it, or to begin our healing journeys through it. Thankfully there are tools and people to help us. These resources have been immensely helpful for me and our family as we walk the path of healing.

Please, talk with your children about what “grooming” can look like, and have those frank and open talks with them about sex, and how social media may negatively influence them and their friends and peers.

Build honest and trusting relationships so that you are safe to talk to about anything that troubles them. Admittedly all of this takes time, sacrifice, work, and effort. Our children are our precious future and they are more than worth it.

MISSY SNITKO

Whitehall, Montana