A Way Out

07/22/2026

Did you know that child marriage is legal in over half of all U.S. states?

Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Brian Schatz, and Representative Gwen S. Moore have reintroduced the Child Marriage Prevention Act (CMPA), the first federal legislation to tackle child marriage right here in the United States. NNEDV was proud to endorse this bill.

The CMPA takes bold action to incentivize states to and closes loopholes in our immigration laws that enable the exploitation of girls under the guise of marriage.

In the United States, child marriage brings devastating short- and long-term consequences, and girls are disproportionately harmed. Passing this legislation will send a strong message that the U.S. condemns child marriage, no matter where it occurs.

Take Tahirih Justice Center's Action Alert to tell your members of Congress to support the Child Marriage Prevention Act: https://buff.ly/sB5IlC6

[Image description: A picture of the U.S. Capitol and text reading: "The Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2026 has been Introduced! A historic step forward to protect children and ensure every child has the freedom to choose their future."]

07/22/2026

To every survivor:

What happened to you was not your fault.

Healing can take time, and your story deserves compassion, support, and care. You are worthy of safety, healing, and hope.

Learn more about our Healing Resources at
saprea.org/saprea-retreat/

07/22/2026

07/22/2026

07/22/2026

There's nothing normal or healthy about these behaviors. Please know that these are abusive behaviors and you do not deserve to be treated this way.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233

07/22/2026

Abuse isn’t always visible. Sometimes, it can show up through words, behaviors, and patterns that leave you feeling isolated, controlled, or like you’re constantly questioning yourself.

These things might not leave a mark you can see, but they can still affect how you feel, how you show up, and how you see yourself.

🚩 Knowing the difference between a red flag and a healthy relationship can be powerful. What’s one green flag you look for in a relationship? 💚

07/22/2026

💜 To the person who has spent so much time surviving…

You deserve to know what it feels like to breathe without fear.
To sleep without crying.
To love without constantly questioning your worth.
To wake up and realize that your life can be yours again.

You may not be where you want to be yet…
but please don’t forget how far you’ve already come. 🥹💜

What is one thing you are proud of yourself for surviving? 💜👇

SMRC©️2026 | DomesticViolenceAngels™ 💜

07/22/2026

07/22/2026

It starts with ready access to po*******hy

As a teenager in the late 80s, I don’t recall either of my parents ever having to talk to me about the dangers of po*******hy, and that’s because if I wanted to catch an illicit peek at n**e grown adults, my choices were either an issue of National Geographic, or my public library’s copy of “The Joy of Sex,” both seemingly innocuous options.

There’s no doubt we’re in an entirely different environment now when it comes to instant and effortless access to nudity and po*******hy-both soft and hard-core, and if you don’t believe me, here’s a startling fact: Helen Roberts, founder of the non-profit Dignify, revealed a survey of more than 1,000 young people in schools found that the average age young people reported first watching po*******hy was 12 to 13 years old, though some said they had viewed it as young as five.

When to talk to your kids about po*******hy

But when, where, and exactly HOW you have the p**n talk with your teen or ‘tween son (I raised four sons; hence my perspective is male, but the same goes for daughters) are questions that parents still find awkward, uncomfortable, and very difficult to answer.

And whose job is it anyways? Mom’s? Dad’s? Is age nine too young? Is age nine too late? How much do they need to know?

You can waste hours on the internet reading what the so-called advice experts give on having the p**n talk, but sometimes you just want to hear from regular moms in the trenches on what worked for them.

I recently asked other boy moms to share what they did, and ended up with these great tips to help you fear the conversation less and give you confidence to get it done. (Again, advice is applicable to girls too!)

Continued in comments

07/22/2026

Some people hide their pain behind a smile, humor, or “I’m fine.”
You never truly know what someone may be carrying quietly.

Check on your strong friends.
Check on your happy friends.
Check on the ones who always show up for everyone else.