The Weather Report: Seeing the Iceberg Beneath the Surface

When Alyssa Milano ignited the #MeToo movement, responses poured in from every corner of the globe — not because people wanted attention, but because pain that was once silent found its name. In that wave, survivors felt seen for the first time. The world began to realize that what we don’t talk about still exists — and that’s the point of awareness. Awareness isn’t about fear — it’s about visibility.

A Story of Hearing What’s Not Said

Anna had always been a cheerful 8-year-old, full of jokes and hugs. But for weeks she seemed quieter, distant, hiding her arms with long sleeves even in summer. Her mom asked her friend’s mom if something had happened at swim practice. Nothing was reported. But one evening, Anna whispered, “It’s just a feeling… I can’t explain.” Her mother paused — not dismissing, not interrogating — but listening. And that night changed everything.

Anna later disclosed that an older teenager at practice made comments that made her uncomfortable. Her courage came not from a lecture or a threat, but from knowing her voice mattered.

What the Numbers Say

Child sexual abuse affects children across all backgrounds, and while underreported, research provides insight into its scale:

• In the United States, approximately every 9 minutes a child is sexually assaulted, according to aggregated crime reporting data. (RAINN)

• National health data suggest that about 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse before they turn 18. (NSVRC)

• Globally, roughly 90 million children have experienced sexual violence, and over 650 million girls and women alive today were subjected to sexual violence in childhood. (UNICEF)

• Online exploitation and abuse are rising rapidly with increased internet access; studies estimate a significant portion of children encounter online sexual exploitation or abuse. (Georgia State News Hub)

These figures are not meant to frighten — they are meant to motivate preparedness, not panic. Awareness gives us power to protect, to intervene early, and to communicate clearly with children in ways that make them feel safe.

Why Awareness Is Not Scary — It’s Liberating

Fear keeps conversations in the dark. Awareness brings them into the light. When we understand what we’re guarding against, we can equip children with language, boundaries, and confidence — long before they ever face a risk.

Some parents fear that talking about safety will introduce ideas to children that they hadn’t thought of. But research and experience both show the opposite: children who get age-appropriate safety education feel safer and more secure, not more scared.

This week:

1. Have one intentional conversation with your child about safety — not as a “lecture,” but as affirmation:

   • “If anything ever makes you uncomfortable — big or small — you can always tell me. I will listen.”

     
     

     Use your tone to convey calmness and trust, not alarm.

2. Replace fear with confidence: Say this prayer or affirmation if you are a person of faith — “God, give me wisdom and courage to protect the ones I love.”

3. Watch and listen: Notice one shift in your child’s behavior this week — positive or quiet — and respond with presence, not pressure.

Awareness doesn’t ruin childhood — it protects it. When we see the iceberg beneath the surface, we can navigate around danger rather than crash into it.