I Need to Say this About Grooming

There are a lot of people throwing around the term "grooming" who I suspect don't fully know or understand what the term means.

As someone who has worked with youth organizations for most of their professional life and has had at least fifty hours of professional training (probably way more, but I didn't want people to come at me) on how to spot and stop grooming. It is in my personal opinion, that the throwing around of this term, in regards to something that it is not, is extremely dangerous and undermines the very real danger that comes from actual grooming.

I suspect that some of the individuals that have been incorrectly or flippantly using the term "grooming" might be confusing the term with "indoctrination." (In my personal opinion, this is also not indoctrination ). Additionally, I suspect that some might be intentionally using the term "grooming" in a hyperbolic nature to specifically elicit outrage and confusion.

Let me be perfectly clear. Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. Children and young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited or trafficked. Anybody can be a groomer, no matter their age, gender or race.

Opponents of the rising number of "Don't Say Gay" bills that are proliferating across the country (including Ohio) are not trying to "protect groomers." If you honestly think that your child's first grade teacher is actually grooming your or anyone's child that needs to be addressed immediately.

However, if your child's first grade teacher happens to explain to a child/children that some little kids have a mommy and a daddy and some have two mommies or two daddies, that is not grooming. That is teaching. That is being a decent human being and should never be confused for predatory behavior.

Agree with me if you want. Disagree with me if you want. In all honesty, I don't really care what you think. I care about what's best for the children.