The Worthy Adversary

Author: Joelle Casteix

  • Ask a Question Friday: How can I learn more about the Survivors’ Movement

     

    (Note: Yes, I am actually posting this on a Friday. Shocker.)

    How can I learn more about the Survivors’ Movement and SNAP, that organization with whom you do so much work? Is there anywhere I can hear the best and brightest speakers on the topic and meet people who are working for justice for adult victims of child sexual abuse (as well as stopping the cycle and preventing abuse)?

    The best place to learn about the Survivors’ Movement and legislative change, hear the latest news, meet leaders and newsmakers, and get the best information on abuse prevention and victim healing is to attend the SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Annual Conference. I am not a huge fan of conferences, but the SNAP conference—scheduled for July 31-August in Washington, D.C. (Alexandria, VA)—hosts the best and brightest speakers who are totally engaged in helping survivors and protecting kids. You can go for a day or the whole weekend.

    If you are interested in presenting, you can download the request for proposals here.

    The organizers do a great job every year to make the conference fun, engaging, relevant, and life-changing. You will do yourself a service by attending.

     

  • You asked. We listened.

    YesMySonKindle

    You’ve been bugging me for years. So now you can all clam up and put your money where you mouth is.

    YES, MY SON. WINE IS ONE OF THE FIVE FOOD GROUPS, the definitive collection of my humorous Facebook posts, is available for your Kindle (or your ebook reader on your computer) and in paperback. And while I am not one to boast, I had forgotten how funny a lot of this stuff was.

    So here is what I need from you:

    1. Please buy the book. It’s super affordable. In fact, buy a couple. They’re small.
    2. Consider writing a review. A nice one. Heck, I’ll even write it for you to post.
    3. Tell your friends. Tell everyone you have ever met. Tell anyone with a pulse.
    4. Spread the love on social media. Post about the book on Facebook or Twitter. Talk about it on Goodreads (as of this writing, the book isn’t up yet. Just give it some time).

    What will you get in return? Laugh-out-loud fun, love, good karma, extra Christmas presents from total strangers, and … most importantly, my unending respect and gratitude. All for $2.99.

    I bet your $3 latte never did that for you.

     

  • Book Announcement

    THE WELL-ARMORED CHILD: A PARENTS’ GUIDE TO PREVENTING ABUSE has found a home (before it ends up in your home and the homes of all of your friends).

    The manuscript has been accepted by the Greenleaf Book Group and will be published under the River Grove imprint. Expect to see the book on Amazon and available for order in late August 2015. It will also be available for order by book stores and groups.

    Yay!

     

     

  • Ask a Question Friday: My kid is too young for prevention education

    Q&A

    Joelle, you constantly stress how important it is to “armor” your child against abuse from as early as infancy and toddlerhood. I don’t agree. My child is too young to know about sex. Why do you insist on exposing children so early and ruining their innocence?

    Armoring your child does NOT include talking about sex. You can empower your child and teach her and yourself the tools you need WITHOUT destroying her innocence. You do not need to get into uncomfortable discussions about biology, where babies come from, shame, sexuality, morality, or religious views on sex. Your child doesn’t understand and doesn’t care. He just wants to be safe and empowered.

    When I talk about “armoring” your baby and toddler, I mention NOTHING about sex, abuse, or anything else that destroys a child’s innocence. Instead, I talk about the importance of establishing boundaries and schedules for infants and toddlers, as well as using consistency and love in discipline. For toddlers, I stress knowing the correct names for body parts and allowing your child to refuse hugs and kisses from adults. You can learn more here.

    Your child’s innocence is a gift. Armoring your child reinforces that innocence. And it’s totally in your power and control.

     

  • Naughty Twitter Feed? Say Adios to that scholarship, my friend!

    Twitter_logo

    Talking to teenagers about their social media presence can be a drag. But if you have a teen and that teen is online, talking to your kid about his or her “online presence” can make the difference between a free college education and a lifetime of student debt.

    Don’t believe me?

    Just ask the high schooler who was denied the scholarship because his online presence was not “representative … of our university.”

    From USA Today:

    Three years ago, Scott Fitch couldn’t believe what he was hearing. A college coach recruiting two of his Fairport High School boys basketball players called to say how much he liked what he saw after watching them play an AAU game, and that he thought both were good enough to see court time on his team as freshmen.

    “But we’re going to stop recruiting one of them,” the college coach said.

    Stunned, Fitch asked why.

    “We found his Twitter account, looked through it and some of what we saw isn’t representative of what our university is about,” the recruiter explained.

    Be sure to read the whole thing.