I am not sure if it is just my line of work that I am involved in now, so I am just way more aware of the things going on or if it has actually just gotten way worse… 

But in case you are living under a rock, don’t watch the news or just completely unaware… the amount of child sex crimes – exploitation, abuse, solicitation, endangerment and pedophilia in our parish and surrounding parishes – is unsettling to say the least.  

I know we all like to think that it won’t happen to our kids, but we cannot even trust family members, teachers, coaches, close friends, people who are supposed to be responsible for loving, caring, educating, leading and shaping their lives.  

With recent happenings, I have decided to really re-evaluate what and who my kids are exposed to. I will admit I have played the part of the cool/lenient mom to an extent. Especially with my oldest when it comes to what she wants to wear certain things, go certain places with friends, wear makeup and join a couple social media platforms. She wants to wear and do all the same things her friends are doing just like every other pre-teenage girl. But if that puts her more at risk to experience some of the same things I went through as a child or that these kids in our hometown, parish, state, country, world are going through, then some changes will be made.  

And she is not going to like it, but it is not our job to make sure that our children have the trendiest clothes, the latest make-up brands, an established following on social media or the freedom to choose what is best for them. It is our job to make sure they are loved, cared for and SAFE! They may not always like that, but they will grow to appreciate it someday I promise you! 

I pray for my kid’s innocence to stay intact for as long as possible every single day. And I pray for the kids who lost their innocence way too soon because it is not something you will ever get back! 

(Paige Gurgainers is a mom of three girls, digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal and publisher of Bienville Parish Journal and Claiborne Parish Journal.)