Child Abuse Vigil Draws Attention to Community Problem – Part Two
Understanding child development can help you strengthen your parenting skills
Note: This is part two of a series about child abuse in Onslow County. For part one, click here.
We, a community of colleagues, parents, family, friends and neighbors – do not accept the statistics of child abuse.
What can we do? We are dismayed as to why children are abused. We ask – who could or would do such a thing?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. Abusers aren’t the scary monsters we envision. Sadly, they can be a neighbor, a friend, and a co-worker. What we do know is that child abuse is more likely to occur when parents are struggling from:
- Stress
- Pressures
- A difficult or painful childhood
- Addictions
- Feelings of isolation
- Unrealistic expectations of children
The greatest gift we can offer to families who are at risk or in crisis is our time and our listening ears – to hear them and get to know their struggles. We must recognize their challenges as reality, and personally model positive parenting practices in our community.
I know each of us has wondered: Is it really my business to place my nose where it doesn’t belong? If we are committed to making a difference for kids – it is our business.
It shouldn’t hurt to be a child; this we acknowledge with passion. But it shouldn’t hurt to be a parent either!
Five Protective Factors
Its basic common sense that when protective factors are in place and are strong – abuse and neglect diminish. Research supports five protective factors known to strengthen families:
- Parental resilience
- Social connections
- Knowledge of parenting and child development
- Concrete support in times of need
- Social and emotional development of children
We must continue our work connecting our resources. We are all players in this reality show. If your work can be described by one of these five protective factors – connect with other resources in the community and, let’s make it happen!
Suzie McCabe is a Maternal-Child Case Manager for Onslow Memorial Hospital.
