Stand Up For Kids

Linda, age 8. Jaime, age 5. Michael, age 7. Holli, age 10. Brandon, age 4. Crystal, age 12. Kim, age 15. Tom, age 6. McKensey, age 5. Anne, age 17. Ruth, age 9. Marla, age 6. Drew, age 13. Hilary, age 11. Brent, age 7. Hannah, age 16. Sandra, age 8. Cheri, age 12. Christopher, age 9. Paul, age 10. Gabby, age 9. Brad, age 14. Cari, age 6. James, age 3. Pearl, age 5. Kristi, age 8.

This isn’t a list of real people. I made it up, but, what if the names and ages were real? What if each name represented a real person who had been sexually abused, along with their age at the time the abuse began?

What if we filled the back of a t-shirt with first names and ages like these? What if the front of the shirt said Stand Up For Kids and directed you to a helpful website with information on preventing sexual abuse?

Maybe the website could give you ideas for teaching kids about abuse and maybe it could tell you what to do if the unthinkable happens to someone you love. Maybe the website could be called http://www.somesecretshurt.com/, and maybe it could tell you about an important book that will be released September 16. What if the book was a great tool for families, for parents, for teachers, and for kids of all ages.?What if the book was called Some Secrets Hurt?

What if the front of the t-shirt had a picture from Some Secrets Hurt? What if the picture represented a whole community with people of all ages and all ethnic group? What if the picture reminded us that keeping kids safe is everyone’s job? What if the t-shirt reminded us to stand up for kids?

Some Secrets Hurt is a real book, and http://www.somesecretshurt.com/ is under construction, but the t-shirt is still a dream. If the t-shirt were real, would you wear it? Would you buy it? Would you give it as a gift? I’d love to hear from you.

If you were ever abused, would you want your name included on the shirt? You can send your name to lindagarner@somesecretshurt.com. First name only. Include your age when you were abused.

Isn’t it time that we all stand up for kids?

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