“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”~ Matthew 7:15
In 2011, former Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky was accused of multiple counts of rape on minors. The information released about his victims is very disturbing. How he used a non-profit organization and the lure of college football to get them near him. It’s so sad. It’s so horrible and so disgusting! But what about the parents of these kids? Why would they let them be part of such a program where they would get abused like this? Why didn’t they protect their kids?
I grew up in a central Pennsylvania town called Altoona which is located about 45 minutes from State College, PA where Penn State is located. We were a lower income family. I loved Penn State Football and my grandfather would sometimes sign us up for free community things to get us whatever help we could receive. I have thought about this a few times, but I am very thankful that no one ever entered me into The Second Mile program that Jerry Sandusky used as one of his tools to get access to at-risk children. Growing up as an “at-risk” child myself I could have been one of these victims. It makes me so thankful and relieved that I was never a part of this!
How do you protect your kids?
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As a single mom you most likely want what is best for your children. You want to protect your children from wolves like Jerry Sandusky, but how? You must take precautions. Does this mean that you should never trust anyone? No! Does this mean that you should never allow anyone around your children? No! Does this mean that you should do your homework and monitor any relationships outside of your home? YES!
Be Present to Protect Them
Never Let Them Be Alone to Protect Them
Trust your gut
Protect Your Child’s Innocence
Don’t Do Sleepovers
“James Dobson believes that children should not participate in sleepovers. The world has changed, he says, and has become too dangerous to allow your children out of your sight for so long. In his book Bringing Up Girls, he says:Sadly, the world has changed in the last few decades, and it is no longer a safe place for children. Pedophiles and child molesters are more pervasive than ever. That is why parents must be diligent to protect their kids every hour of the day and night. …Until you have dealt with little victims as I have and seen the pain in their eyes, you might not fully appreciate the devastation inflicted by molestation. It casts a long shadow on everything that follows, including future marital relationships. Therefore, parents have to think the unthinkable in every situation. The threat can come from anywhere—including neighbors, uncles, stepfathers, grandfathers, Sunday school teachers, coaches, music instructors, Scout leaders, and babysitters. Even public bathrooms can be dangerous today…”
Know Their Circle
Is this a fool proof plan? No. Abuse could occur literally anywhere. The moral of the story is for you to be aware and watching and knowing that your foremost responsibility as a single mom is to protect, provide, and care for your children. If anything comes between your protection, provision, or your caring for your children then question it, analyze it, examine it, and decide what is the best for your children. Don’t put anyone’s opinions, wants, or needs above your children’s. They need you to look out for them!
You can do this and God will help! Pray for his protection over them and guidance to help you! Psalm 68:5 says that God is “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.” I love this verse so much! Through you and your children having a personal relationship with Jesus, God will be your children’s Father and He will defend you! Trust in Him and use the common sense and wisdom that He has given to you!
Sean and Jackie Teis started Life Factors Ministries in 2008 to spread hope to fatherless homes. Through Life Factors Ministries they are leading fatherless families to the Heavenly Father through spreading awareness, creating unique resources, speaking, and partnering with other ministries. Sean has spoken around the country at various events. Some of the unique resources they have published include: The Fatherless Journey for Girls (For Teen Girls) The Fatherless Journey for Guys (For Teen Guys), and The Single Mom Journey. In addition to their work with Life Factors Sean also serves as the Student Pastor at Colonial Baptist Church in Venice, FL while Jackie is home with their three children, homeschooling two of them. You can find out more about Sean and Jackie Teis and Life Factors at lifefactors.org.
The Life of a Single Mom is a national, faith-based, nonprofit that exists to see that no single mom walks alone. To date, the organization has worked with hundreds of churches to start a single mom’s support group in cities throughout the U.S. and beyond, as well as having served hundreds of thousands of single mothers with a variety of programs. Offering a large array of books, curriculum, training materials, online instructional videos, podcasts, newsletters, life skills education, and more, TLSM is one of the largest single mom organizations in the U.S. The robust selection of single mom programs focus on empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and parentally through Single Mom University, Single Moms Across America, the National TLSM Single Moms Conference, boot camps, and a variety of other programs. For more information, visit www.thelifeofasinglemom.com.
