How amazing it is to be able to meet young mamas. They are all abustle about their children at whatever stage they are at. Life feels so FRESH to them… hard at times but also exciting. It has been a gift to be invited to speak into their season, encouraging them with what we “older” folks have learned along the way. I often say, “growing older is a privilege not everyone gets” and so I treasure it and seek to invest the time I am given in the lives of those around me.

One way that I do this is through accepting speaking invitations. This year I have chosen a very practical message to share at the groups I’m invited to. One birthed out of my last season of walking closely with those who’ve held grievous trauma in their bodies and often felt unprotected and unprepared for the assaults that were waged against them in their youth. Body safety is the topic I have chosen. I feel that it is vital as I continue to encourage the development of safe spaces for people to grow into all God created them to become. My desire to share about this topic was also formed, in part, out of trying my best as a young mom only to have others outside our home cause damage to those I love. As I look back, I wonder if I adequately prepared those under my care in these areas but realize that if I didn’t, it wasn’t for lack of desire, but for lack of knowledge. A wealth of wonderful resources is available to today’s families and with my current experience and education I want to make sure no mama, or child for that matter, goes through life without knowledge of how to keep themselves safe and what to do if someone attempts or succeeds in harming them.

All of this brings me to my desire to provide clear, simple training for mamas to lay a foundation of safety and open communication in their homes. To create SAFE SPACES for their families. I am so grateful to Jennifer Chapman and the Mastering Motherhood organization she started for providing a platform to do just that. Year after year, this Christ-honoring organization gathers mamas of all ages together in a loving and judgement-free environment to learn and grow together. I could not be more grateful to partner with them as a speaker and supporter. As I move from group-to-group, meeting mamas from all backgrounds and experiences, I thank God for Mastering Motherhood and all that He does to establish healthy families through these groups. If this sounds a little like a plug for Mastering Motherhood, it is! If you are a mom or caregiver of children of any age, I encourage you to go to masteringmotherhood.com to learn about joining a group in your area. They have both morning and evening groups available.

If you aren’t able to make it to a group but would like more information about body safety, please check out some of these helpful resources:

https://themamabeareffect.org
(I especially love their Rock The Talk series with information on body safety topics by age)

https://e2epublishing.info (check out their free resources tab with great materials that you can print and use in your home.)

https://www.netgrace.org/resources (GRACE – Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment. Their page includes articles, videos and other helpful resources)

I have found these and other sites helpful not just in preparing my talk, but for myself personally. Having grown up in another generation it is refreshing to learn about things we never considered, like how to listen to our bodies and to trust our early warning signs. I appreciate the knowledge on how to teach consent from an early age and the importance of a safety network. Even in my adult life I find myself using many of the tools that I am learning personally and as I engage the younger women I mentor.

I do know this topic can be difficult for those impacted by sexual trauma. If any of what I shared left you needing support, please reach out and talk with someone you trust. If you can’t think of someone, please reach out to me and I’ll help you evaluate who a safe person is. My prayer for all of you is that no matter what age or stage of life you find yourself that you are LIVING LOVED by developing relationships with people who are truly safe spaces for you and that you are growing to be a person who is a safe space for others.

With you on the journey,