Mommy vs. media in sexualization of girls: Where are the dads?

[FirstLight]

62. I was one of those

I left my ex in 04 with a 2 yr old and 7 month old and whatever we could carry...it was a safety issue. After we left I found my ex's stash of CHILD PORN on my computer..as a result of the investigation i had to have my 2 yr old daughter examined by a ME and they stuck a camera up her Ya-hoo while i had to hold her while she screamed...after all the trauma for us...he got a slap on the hand. needless to say I have a restraining order on him till the day I die...and my kids know enough to know he is never to be trusted.
Now, they are 9 & 10 and while they are learning new things about puberty and other words and what they mean, I am not only explaining more to them, but reminding them that THEY set the rules for their own bodies....and I will continue to be frank and as honest as I can for their age...because NOT knowing what's out there is just as dangerous as being over exposed. (my mom never told me what rape really was, never talked to me about sex, I had to figure it out on my own, and not in a good way)

As for demonization of the single parent, i get it all the time and I also feel the empty space for the kids as well, it's heart wrenching...because they know we are 'missing' something too, even though they have never experienced it. My kids want a daddy, because they want me to be happy...they don't understand what that entails (finding a man who treats your kids right is next to impossible, others think you are 'easy' just because you have kids, others run away because they think you are looking for a meal ticket, and someone who showed too much interest in my kids would be suspect too, for obvious reasons).

I hate feeling like we are "less than" because we are survivors...we made it out of hell alive, thankyouverymuch...and people who blame the single parent for not being attentive enough or showing the kids multiple partners is NOT talking about me & mine.