While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about. ~Angela Schwindt

We want to believe the worst that can happen to our innocent children is a scraped knee, a cold that takes over for a few days, and the growing pains from life's valuable lessons. When we watch our children endure the "worst", it can bring us down and break our hearts, and can bring us to the greatest heights when the upside of life returns. I wish the "little things" were the worst that could happen. I wish ALL were invested in our precious children; in wanting to keep them safe, protected, and always in the light of imagination, wonder, and awe. But, what can happen, and does happen, to some of our little ones is so horrific, gruesome, and evil. What some of our "children" are subjected to, forced to live through is what most of us cannot even begin to read, hear, or think about. Innocence is stolen, life is taken, and by some who continue to have "second, third, and many more" chances to reoffend*. Why is it that we are not putting our foot down, and continue to allow many to slip through the cracks of our judicial system? The laws are in place, the problem, they are not always enforced. And, we lack a clear representation of what should, and is accepted. There should be NO tolerance, NO second chances, and disciplinary actions that reflect "throwing away the key". It is time our children live through only a scraped knee, bruised elbows, or falling off a bike after removing the training wheels. We must do what we can, as a team, to protect those who cannot protect themselves and arm our children with knowledge and confidence.

Let's enter a world of what is currently in the news, a handful of statistics, and a few ideas to keep your grand/children safe from "real-life-monsters". Most of us know the heartbreaking cases surrounding Caylee, Sandra, Haleigh, and the missing, Ryan, Alina, and Aaron. It is overwhelming, and painful to dig up what we have learned, read, and heard in recent weeks. We have been able to follow crimes in the media including; children suffering blunt force trauma, shaking, beatings, being burned, starved, tortured, and some, who have been murdered. We are able to learn about exploitation and trafficking, torture, violent crimes, child pornography, even children who have been held captive in dungeons, and those who have suffered a crime after an online encounter. Remember, not all crimes are reported, not all cases are brought to justice. We only know what is on the surface. The crimes committed against children are to painful to digest, try to imagine being the child living through it.

According to the FBI children are reported missing at the rate of:

825,600 per year

68,800 per month

more than 2,000 per day

three every two minutes

Online child pornography/child exploitation is the most significant crime problem confronting the FBI that involves crimes against children.

According to another source, abducted children who are murdered are killed within the first three hours of their kidnapping.

Here are a few tips to help keep your children safe, educated, and aware.

Talk to your children. Share the term, "A stranger can mean danger".

Teach them important contact information.

Know your neighbors, the people caring for your children, and those (registered) living in your area.

NEVER leave your children unattended, even if it is a "convenience".

Know their friends, acquaintances, and who they are in contact with.

Take them to their destinations, or use a heavily formed buddy system.

Stay in contact. Provide them with the means to stay in contact.

Know their "business" on the "internet superhighway".

Practice scenarios, and provide a "family safety plan".

Teach them to observe: who, what, when, where, and why when they are out.

Ask questions. Investigate.

Go with your gut.

Report a tip.

And, always tell your "smalls" you love them.

I am currently working on a new program, with hopes of submission before the year end, to the Department of Justice. This program brings a sense of hope for the future and a sigh of possibility for a new form of justice, for our most vulnerable. We can no longer live in the past, and continue using programs, sentencing guidelines, that continue to fail our children, and lack enforcement. When I think about the "worst" that can happen to a child, I wonder why it feels hearts, eyes, and ears are not being opened, backs are being turned, while a criminals hand is simply being slapped and released.

Protecting Your Children http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2814

Federal Statutes Relating To Protecting Our Children http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/federal.htm

Crimes Against Children Research Center http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/

Protecting Our Kids http://da.co.la.ca.us/pok/default.htm

Adam Walsh Child Protection And Safety Act http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090220-tows-adam-walsh-act

Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force http://www2.state.id.us/ag/newsrel/2009/nr_jan122009b.htm

Amber Alert http://www.amberalert.gov/

National Center For Missing & Exploited Children http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US

Haley's Rights http://www.haleysrights.org/Crimes against children.htm

You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came from and refuse to tell you where they're going. P.J. O'Rourke

*"According to Hanson, and his colleagues conducted a meta-analysis on treatment and found that 17 percent of untreated subjects reoffended, whereas 10 percent of treated subjects did so. When recidivism rates for sex and nonsexual violent crimes were combined, 51 percent of untreated and 32 percent of treated subjects reoffended" (Scientific American, 2008).