Everyone Knows a Predator: Gracie’s Story

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Hi! Im Gracie. I’m a busy mom on a mission to fight child exploitation. I created my Innocence Project as a way to explore the best ways to get involved.

Unfortunately everyone knows a child predator, even if you might not be aware of it.

I am certain I have had a few pedophiles in my life.

3 Suspects (Maybe More) 👤👤👤

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I would like to tell you about them. Thankfully what I have to say about them is not particularly terrible.
However, I do find it very troubling that my primary emotion regarding these experiences is gratitude. It is wrong to be happy that I was victimized only a little bit.

The Bad Doctor 👤

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The first incident I remember it was around age 12. I went to my family doctor for something (probably swimmers ear) but for some reason my father didn’t go with me into the exam room. He gave me some little lecture about growing up and doing things on my own. I wonder if Dr. Grope heard my dad’s little pep talk?

This little lesson in self sufficency certainly gave the not-so-good doctor an opprtunity.

Once we were alone he went to listen to my chest with his stethescope and got very annoyed with my little training bra. He demamded that I move it and then a few minutes later, remove it. He put his hand under my shirt and touched me inapropriately for several minutes.

It would take me years to fully understand what happened.

I remember feeling confused and embarassed but not particularly violated. It’s normal for a doctor to touch a patient. Right?!

https://unsplash.com/@hush52

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I might have completely forgotten about it except for a few other notable memories.

I had another visit to the doctor a while later. My mom went into the exam room with me this time. Dr. Grope went to listen to my chest and I asked him if he wanted me to undo my bra. I can still hear the anger and panic in his voice. He seemed shocked said “WHAT? Why would I want that?” and looked at my mom as if I was crazy.

I guess at some point in my early adult life, curiosity got to me and I asked a random doctor during an exam, “Do you need me to remove my bra or undo it to listen to my chest?”
Nope.
Then he did the most professional chest exam I ever had. He manuvered around every bit of my clothing in a dignified way. It was eye opening.

The Dirty Janitor 👤👤

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I had another pervert come into my life at age 12. He was the janitor at my junior highschool. My mother watched his two young children during the day while their parents worked.
Mr. Gross was a creepy man. He tried very hard to get my attention for the 2 years I was at that school. He seemed to be around every corner. He was trying to talk to me more and more until one day he physically blocked me from going into my social studies class.

https://unsplash.com/@mrthetrain

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He pulled me aside and started to tell me what a cute shirt I was wearing. He scolded me because it was a bit “naughty”. Unfortunately, it was form fitting and white, so you could see the outline of my bra. After a few more akward moments, I managed to get into class, only to find him making googly eyes at me from the open door.

I sat at my desk unable to do anything as he ran his hands over his body as if that was how he wanted to touch me. Then he playfully shook his finger at me before leaving.
After that I even caught him peeking into class a few times.
It was creepy as fuck and I was immediately repulsed by him. I did everything I could to avoid him.

I tried to travel between classrooms with friends. I even peeked around a few corners. He still managed to talk to me on occasion but I tried to make it clear I wasn’t interested.

I was very happy when it was time to move to high school.

The Fucked Up Family: Uncle Gerry 👤👤👤

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With pedos you often don’t need to look any further than your family to find one. Yup, I’ve got a pervert Uncle Gerry. He’s the worst one.

Before I was born, he got a way-too-young-girl pregnant. I am comfortable calling it rape. They did what was expected and he married her.

They had 4 girls; 2 before I was born, and 2 after. I loved my cousins.
I’m sure you have already figured out what happened.

As if it’s not bad enough to be raped a parent, my extended family disowned those poor girls for pressing charges. Gerry got 6 months in prison, and I never saw my cousins again.

I wish I could say the same for Gerry. I still have the great displeasure of seeing him at family events.

I tried to talk to my mom about Mr. Gross. It didn’t go well. She didn’t believe me and accused me of trying to ruin him and his family.

I’m not going to make excuses for her or her family’s behavior. I really don’t understand, although I certainly have tried. The best way I can see it, is that we are all broken inside, in some way. That includes parents.

I think that analyzing my messed up family dynamics is much less important than analyzing this line up of losers.

A lot of my story may confirm what you may have already heard. Pedators put themselves in jobs to be close to kids. They pick kids who are quiet and polite. They often focus on a child after gaining a family’s trust. They like positions of power.

You can also validate this by looking at the professions of arrested child predators.

Recently there was a large arrest in Canada of child porn producers. There were “40 school teachers, nine doctors and nurses, six law enforcement personnel, nine pastors and priests and three foster parents” in the mix according to NBC news.**

We must never forget that child predators are everywhere and always looking to vicimize children. They do what ever they can to make this happen. Every one of those predators, who had a job working with kids, did so because it gave them access to kids. It was not a random coincidence.

I would just like to leave you with one last thought.

Are we as parents/humans putting as much time & energy into protecting our kids, as predators are putting into trying to vicitimizing them?

Just something to chew on.

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tags: opchildsafety childsafety innocenceproject

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Thanks for stopping by and reading my story! I appreciate it so much.

Comments, criticism and accolades are always welcome!

The Innocence Project is on the twitter: https://twitter.com/Innocenceproje4

1st Article: https://steemit.com/introducemyself/@gracie-gardener/introducing-myself-i-want-to-make-a-difference

2nd Article: https://steemit.com/childexploitation/@gracie-gardener/my-innocence-project-begins

3rd Article: https://steemit.com/childexploitation/@gracie-gardener/meet-ginger-she-hunts-pedophiles

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** https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/nearly-400-children-rescued-348-adults-arrested-canadian-child-pornography-flna2D11599561