RED FLAGS

Follow Shellie Devenny's heavy and personal experiences she faced when she was abused, emotionally and physically at the hands of multiple people, including her mother. Shellie wants parents/guardians to know that it’s important to be aware of the signs of abuse children can face and act accordingly to help them.

High-profile abuse cases are widespread over social media, news outlets, and other communication mediums. Marches and chants ensue, cursing the predator and hunting him out in the wild. The undivided attention of the masses resonates with the victim’s distress, giving rise to voices of justice.

In the fortunate cases, though to be a fortunate victim is a paradox in itself, the perpetrator is incarcerated and held back from performing their heinous acts any further.

However, in more realistic cases, the movements do little to bring attention to the case at hand. While the perpetrator, ravaged by guilt over their first-ever offense, is given enough empathy to receive a second chance at life. A quick slap on the wrist and they may be on their merry way to never perform their acts of cruelty again – or so they promise.

Regardless of the outcome, the movements and social media outbursts serve as a reminder of the harrowing circumstances of many underage children. The ones plastered on the news are only the two percent who receive a small acknowledgment token. The rest remain hushed in fear of their current conditions worsening or being left alone, for in many cases, the perpetrator may be the parent or someone within the family.

As a result, these cases are nurtured within four walls—bedroom doors that open to reoccurring nightmares, muffled cries, and a numbing end.

Children must be taught to recognize boundaries and the points at which they may be crossed. Parents are responsible for protecting their kids even when they are not in front of them. This is why the only way to ensure their safety is to ensure they know how to protect themselves. Or, at the very least, be trained to identify danger and reach out for help immediately.

In the absence of a protector, children are exposed to dangers, predators, and grooming that can take years to take effect. By then, it may be too late to recognize the abuse and decondition the child from a life of perpetual submission.

In cases where children remain quiet about the abuse they face, parents must be aware of the red flags raised around their child’s behavior. They may not be able to speak about it directly, but the behavior change is a cry for help. Pay attention to them.

What They Don't Say - RED FLAGS is a message for all the parents, not to ignore the symptoms of abuse and all the signs and red flags, as they can heavily impact the lives of their children.