Are You Dating a Child Sexual Molester?

If you are a single parent with children living at home, read this article very carefully if you are dating or thinking about dating again. Many sexual molesters seek out single parents to date who have children the ages of their preferred conquest. The list below includes some terrifying facts about sexual abuse of children by sexual molesters. As a single parent with children, this information is critical for you to be aware of and to take to heart in order to protect your children and yourself from a heart break that is life-long.

• About 5.7 million children, or 1 in 5, are the recipients of unwanted sexual solicitation annually.

• Of these unwanted sexual solicitations, 25% of the children reported being very or extremely upset.

• 1 to 5% of the population sexually abuse young children.

• Approximately 60% of sexual molestations happen to children less than 12 years of age.

• 90% of child molestations are committed by a child molester the child knows.

• Generally, a sexual molester assaults 117 times before being caught.

• The re-arrest rate for convicted child molesters is 52%.

What can a single mom or dad do to protect their children from sexual abuse while having a social life too? Child molesters do not look different than anybody else - they don't stand out in anyway. They can be respected public figures who support worthy causes for children and families. The one thing that is known about child molesters is that you cannot pick them out by the way they look or their profession.

So back to the question, what can a single mom or dad do to protect their children from sexual abuse. Here is a list of things to look out for and consider when thinking about dating when you have children in your home.

1. Does the individual seem to enjoy the company of your children more than you?

2. Does the individual identify with your children who may be troubled or want attention or affection?

3. Does the individual try to finds ways and places to be alone with your children?

Answering these questions in the negative is a good thing, but it really is not enough information to confirm that the individual you are dating is not a child molester. Another level of information gathering can be done by contacting your local police or children's service agency to ask about whether the individual you are dating or may date has a criminal record for child molestation.

Another way you can get information on an individual is to consult one the many sex offender databases on the internet. State and federal government agencies and many child advocacy organizations provide websites where you can look up information on convicted sexual offenders. One of these sites is the National Sex Offended Public Registry at http://www.nsopr.gov. If you find the name of the individual you are dating, or are considering dating, you can also find their address and the offense for which they were convicted.

This may feel like a lot of paranoia to you and that this level of inquiry is overkill. The question to ask is "How will I feel if I find out someone I dated molested my children and I had done nothing to find out if they were a convicted child molester? Checking an individual's background is not time consuming and they will never know you have done this. Don't take the chance. Protect your children.

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