I have been told countless times over these many years that I am TOO protective of my children, that I need to learn how to trust people and that my past impacts me.

Yes!!!! My past most definitely impacts. I am a survivor of hell. I made it out and I know how to protect my children because of what I survived.

NO!!! I will not trust more. I will continue to be vigilant when it comes to the safety of my children. I will make judgements about people and situations that I don't like or that seem sketchy to me. And I will make these judgements without proof. I will protect my children WITHOUT proof that any harm may happen. I do not need proof. And I am willing to upset anyone and everyone when it comes to sheltering and protecting my children. I have even cut some family ties because of situations that I know are harmful despite having proof.

We as parents are the ONLY ones who can protect our children. NO ONE loves your child more than you. NO ONE will be looking out for your child. We are the ones who prepare our children, who talk to our children, who intervene on behalf of our children.

I want to say I understand that it is hard to talk about these things with our children, but I don't. I have been talking to my kids their entire life! We talk daily, not in detail or scary tones, but we talk about some aspect of this daily. And honestly I pray to know what to talk to them about each day and I follow the promptings or thoughts I have.

I ask questions. I ask a lot of questions with my kids. We discuss scenario's. We discuss how to stand up for themselves in all kinds of situations.

Just start talking, even if you haven't yet had the conversation, just start. It's never too late. It is critical that we talk with our kids, that we follow our intuition and do everything we possibly can to protect our children.

Go. Fight. Win.