Don't know if you've seen this yet...

News

Really short version:

Some Varsity boys on a baseball team in Wilson, NY sexually assaulted some boys on the Jr. Varsity team.  They are calling it hazing.  The coaches knew the 'hazing' was going on, not sure how much they knew about the sexual assault though.  This all occurred on school buses on the way back home from games, both coaches were present and so was an adult driver. 

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Please make sure your children know that ANYONE can be a 'sexual predator'.  Friends, family, teachers, coaches, preachers, neighbors, the nice lady/man at the grocery store....anyone.  And if anything ever happens to them or someone threatens them in any way, to immediately go to someone whom they trust.  It isn't their fault and the only way to stop it is to tell someone.  In our family we have these discussions regularly, probably 3 or 4 times a year....just to go over it all, again.  Before school starts is a wonderful time to have the conversation....as well as before any school trips, camp, family trips, etc. 

If you suspect abuse there are a variety of warning signs. Behavioral indicators such as anger, chronic depression, poor self esteem, lack of confidence, problems relating with peers, weight change, age inappropriate understanding of sex, frightened by physical contact or closeness, unwilling to dress or undress in front of others, nightmares, change in behavior, going from happy go lucky to withdrawn, change in behavior toward a particular person, suddenly finding excuses to avoid that person, withdrawals, self-mutilation. If your child has experienced any of these things it may not be attributed to sexual abuse but there is probably something wrong in any case that should be checked out. 

Much love everyone

~Durty