And, to bring this back to the Duggar controversy….
We talk to parents whose kids have acted out sexually on others. It might be someone at school or it might be one of their siblings. These are not twisted children from dysfunctional homes. They are from solid and well-intentioned families. (That is why the Duggar situation, while certainly horrific, did not shock me.)
Those at highest risk to be abusers are those who have abuse in their own pasts. But what makes a good kid raised in a home free of abuse do something so evil?My theory is that it’s lack of information. They don’t know how wrong it is. They are simply curious. Add to that even a minimal amount of porn exposure and their curiosity is intensified.
Parents absolutely cannot afford to bypass talking about these issues. We must train our kids to protect themselves from abuse. We must also teach our kids what types of behaviors inadvertently make them an abuser.
They won’t know it’s wrong unless we teach them it is wrong.
What Should a Parent Do?
You can’t afford to be passive, so start by getting your head out of the sand. The Talks, our book designed to help parents equip their kids to navigate their sexuality, was written to provide practical help. It will hold your hand through the key conversations you need to have about this stuff. We also have created a series of blog posts that give brief lists of what every kid at five key developmental levels need to know about sex. You could start there.
Beyond that, there are some essentials that every parent must do:
1. Face the Facts. These issues can and will affect your kids. No family is immune. The responsibility for educating and equipping falls squarely on your shoulders. Don’t leave it to someone else.
2. Get a Game Plan. You’re going to have to deal with the porn problem. Filters for your computers are smartphones are a starting place. But frank conversations with your kids about the dangers of porn are even more important. Kids are curious, which is good. Porn can make their curiosity toxic. Get a plan and act on it.
3. Clear the Channels of Communication. For many kids who have questions about their sexuality (or a possible incident of abuse), the last place they would go is to their parents. Why? Because the parents have not invited the kids into the conversation. It will be taboo as long as mom and dad stay silent. So have some guts and broach the subject with your kids.
4. Talk About Protecting. Remind your children and teens that nobody has the right to touch them without their permission; especially in areas covered by a swimsuit. Period. Let them know that someone might do that and then make threats that they will get in trouble if they tell anybody. Tell your kids that anyone who does that cannot be trusted. Tell them that they can tell you anything and you will always protect them.
5. Talk About Boundaries. As much as I’m worried about my kids being abused, the Duggar situation reminds us that we need to train our kids not to inadvertently become abusers. Teach them what is appropriate and what is not. This will require you to say things to your kids as blunt as, “You can never EVER touch your sister/brother there.” Failure to give clear parameters about expectations can result in foolish behaviors in any area of our lives. It’s just that the stakes are so much higher in the sexual realm.
6. Be On Guard. Avoid situations where you suspect your kids might not be secure. (We don’t do sleepovers until our kids are older and only then if we know the family extremely well.) Watch for irregular behaviors in your kids. Be aware if the tone of one of your kids’ relationships changes. If you sense something is wrong, something might be wrong. It may be time for a conversation.
7. Pray Your Guts Out. No lengthy commentary here. Just pray for the protection of your kids and for wisdom as they discover God’s gift of sexuality. And don’t forget to listen to God’s still, small voice. He loves you and wants to tell you what to do.
A final word about those whose lives have been devastated by sexual sin….
We have a God of extravagant love who forgives the actions of repentant sinners who run to Him for grace and mercy. I think Josh Duggar knows that.
We have a God of endless compassion who is able to heal the scars of innocents who have been wounded by others. I hope any girl that Duggar abused is walking in that.
But we also have a God of holiness and truth, who calls us to flee temptation, prepare ourselves not to sin, and to live lives of righteousness. That means we have to talk openly about it.
While we certainly cannot eradicate sin and its effects from our children’s lives, we also shouldn’t passively facilitate its power. Let’s step in to the gap with our kids and help them to know some simple parameters of what is right and what is wrong, even if they are largely innocent about the complexities of human sexuality.
Barrett Johnson is the founder of INFO for Families and the author of The Talks: A Parent’s Guide to Critical Conversations about Sex, Dating, and Other Unmentionables.
