Monsters In The Shadows- They ARE Real!

As I was sitting on the porch this evening, smoking my last cigarette of the day (Yeah, I know- I said I was quitting!), watching the sun go down, and enjoying the "quiet" after my children were in bed asleep... I noticed something that seriously disturbed me. Three young teenage girls, probably about 14 or 15- if they were that old- walking down the street.

 Mind you, I'm not disturbed at the sight of younger people or teenagers- not at all.

Rather, it was the time of day in which they were walking, how they were dressed, and how they were acting. I seriously wanted to run out in the street in front of them and scream at them "Do you have ANY IDEA what kind of MONSTERS are out there?!?!?" It made me sad, and at the same time, I remember being so young, and I regret the loss of innocence.

 These girls, at the tender ages they were, were dressed like sexy young WOMEN. Walking through a (albeit relatively safe!) neighborhood at night. Yelling "Hey Baby" at every male that drove by, laughing and giggling behind their hands, tossing their hair, etc. I know they can't possibly really have a clue.

This terrifies me. For them, for me- for my own daughters. I KNOW what kind of monsters exist. I KNOW what can happen to an innocent young girl in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I KNOW that it's no longer safe, even with a couple of friends, to be a young girl, a CHILD, and walk around after dark!

These young girls have no idea that there are monsters out there, waiting to take their innocence. These monsters can be in the form of peers, strangers, relatives, etc. These girls have no clue that their flirty cries of "Hey Baby!" can be taken as a serious come-on and that can put them in a dangerous situation.

Why do children in our society now, feel the need to be "grown-up" or "sexy??" Why can't they stay children, just a bit longer. Why the hurry to grow-up? Why are we so focused on sex and sexuality, that our children know more about the "birds and the bees" at the tender ages of 8 and 9, than we did at the ages of 12 and 13??

There really aren't that many more predators out there now, than there were before... It's more publicized. I may be wrong on this, but if I am, it's because we CREATE these predators. What's wrong with young girls staying GIRLS longer?? Why do we have teen celebrities (Britney Spears, LeAnne Rhimes, Etc) dressing scantily, singing songs about sex and love... And then wonder why our daughters want to emulate them???

Sex sells, sure. Unfortunately, it's targeting our children. And where are the parents?? Trusting that their teens are "mature" enough to know "right" from "wrong", and trusting that their teens will be "careful", and they never once stop to think that something horrible could happen to THEIR child!  

When we allow our daughters to dress like mini-models or like that scantily clad celebrity on television, when we allow them "free-reign" over where they go and when, and when we DON'T warn them about the dangers "out there...." We do our daughters a grave disservice.

  We don't want to acknowledge the "monsters" under the bed, in the closet, in the shadows... and sometimes, those "monsters" come out and grab our children, not even in the DARK. I know. I was raped at the age of 13 by a "peer" who was 17- almost 18. When I was 16, an older step-cousin attempted to rape me. I was taken advantage of by a man I met on the internet, when I was 15.

THE MONSTERS ARE OUT THERE!!! I don't want to scare anyone, I don't want to scare these kids, I don't want to scare these parents... BUT MONSTERS EXIST. And often, they take on a human form. I remember being innocent, I remember, even after being raped at 13, not thinking about the danger out there, not realizing just how dangerous it was to be the age I was.

Teach all about "safe-sex" or "abstinence"... That's fine, kids need to be informed about sex. But there are other dangers out there, that are out of their control. And I won't allow my daughters (or my sons!) to be out walking around after dark, wearing tight and revealing clothes, and I hope to goodness, that I can teach them (without causing them to FEAR EVERYTHING!) that it's better to be safe than sorry, and that it's okay to stay a child a bit longer.

I just wish I could shake some sense into those girls that walked by earlier, I wish I could shake some sense into their parents! I was abused in MANY different ways as a teen, I ended up becoming a teenage mother. I was one of the lucky ones though, there are things far worse... And I've looked into the eyes of hell. I pray to God none of my children ever see what I have, that no one ever steals their innocence or childhood.

But I'm going to do my part to make sure they know as much as they can and are aware of dangers. And I'm not going to expect them to have the sense to "know better" as teens. If teens were nearly as "mature" as they WANT to be, or as society tries to ASSUME they are... Then the legal driving, voting and drinking ages would be younger!

I cry for these girls, and my heart fills with sorrow. I know that monsters exist... and I hope none of these girls ever meet one.