Dear ,

I'm going to say something that might make you angry:

If someone in your family makes your child uncomfortable, I don't care how long you've known them or how much you love them.

Protect your child.

Period. End of discussion.

I don't care if it's your favorite uncle. I don't care if she's been your best friend for twenty years. I don't care if he's the life of the party. I don't care if everyone loves her.

Your child's safety is not negotiable.

And before you say "but they're just [affectionate/old-fashioned/from a different culture/joking around]"—STOP.

Those are the exact phrases families use to protect predators.

Every. Single. Time.

Here's what I need you to understand:

Predators rely on your discomfort with confrontation. They rely on your desire to "keep the peace." They rely on you valuing your relationship with them more than your child's sense of safety.

They're counting on you to make excuses for them.

Don't.

This week's non-negotiable action:

Tell your child explicitly: "If anyone, including family, touches you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, tell me immediately. You won't be in trouble. They will."

Then WATCH who your child avoids. Watch whose presence makes them tense. Watch who they don't want to be alone with.

And believe what you see.

Your child's body language is telling you everything you need to know. The question is, are you listening?

Protecting fiercely,

Latifah Ajetunmobi

P.S. If your first thought after reading this was "But what about Uncle [Name]?"—congratulations, you just identified who your child needs protection from. Now act accordingly.