I found myself turning the radio news off this morning as the Mom-limo headed for 7 a.m. summer camp, unsure of what I could possibly say to my son about the results of the investigation into allegations of longtime sexual abuse of kids while Penn State coach Joe Paterno did nothing.
“Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims,” Louis J. Freeh, the former federal judge and director of the F.B.I. who oversaw the investigation, told a press conference of reporters. “The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized.”
I got so far as that sound bite and turned off the radio, en route to a sports camp. Nothing I could immedately think of was the right frame for the conversation: Don't trust adults, obviously not. Don't ever be alone with a male adult? Possibly, but he's in school, sports, music performance and scouts. Isn't the idea to have positive role models beyond their front door? Trust your instincts? Maybe, but that's the same instinct that thinks 10 hours daily video time is fair.
What are you telling your kids about this case and the shocking results that for 14 years, the Penn State top brass knew Jerry Sandusky had molested children in his charge. I am interested and I suspect others are, too, so share it in our comments.
