Creating a Safe Space: Accountability Starts at Home

It’s easy to point fingers at the world for the dangers our children face, but as parents, we also have a responsibility to create the kind of home where our children feel safe, loved, and valued. We can blame those who take our kids—and rightfully so—but we must also reflect on the environment we provide for them. A child should never feel like their only option is to run away.

Home should be their sanctuary—a place where they feel heard, respected, and understood. It’s about more than just providing food, clothing, and a roof over their heads. It’s about creating an emotional space where they know they belong.

Here’s how we can take accountability and work toward this:

1. Listen Without Judgment: Children need to feel like they can talk to us about anything. When we dismiss their feelings or minimize their struggles, they start seeking validation elsewhere.

2. Provide Emotional Support: Show them that you care not just with words but with actions. Be present, be involved, and let them know they matter to you.

3. Set Boundaries with Love: Discipline is important, but so is compassion. Rules should come with understanding, not fear or resentment. Let them know the "why" behind boundaries.

4. Be Their Advocate: Life is tough for kids. School, friendships, social pressures—it’s a lot. Let them know you’re in their corner, no matter what.

5. Build Trust: When a child feels safe trusting their parents, they are less likely to look for that safety elsewhere. Trust is built by consistency, honesty, and mutual respect.

We have to remember: kids don’t run away from a home where they feel safe and loved—they run from a situation they feel they can’t handle. Let’s take the time to assess our homes, our parenting, and our relationships with our children. Let’s work to build environments where they want to stay, where they feel valued, and where they know they’re safe.

The world can be a scary place for our kids, but it starts with us. Let’s take accountability, not just for their physical safety, but for their emotional and mental well-being too. Together, we can create homes where children thrive, not flee.