Guildford Toilet Block Assault on Sisters: Parents Were Nearby

The story of the day is, sadly, this distressing one.

A six year old girl was trying to help her two year old sister to the bathroom during a family picnic at a park in Guildford, in Sydney's west, when a man followed the girls into the public toilet block and sexually assaulted them, police say.

As reported in The Sydney Morning Herald online, detectives from the Child Abuse Squad are scouring footage from CCTV cameras at businesses and homes surrounding Campbell Hill Pioneer Reserve to try to identify the predator who attacked the sisters about 1.30pm on Thursday.

Guildford attack. Screen shot from 'Today', by Josie's Juice

Acting Superintendent Peter Yeomans, the commander of the Child Abuse Squad, said the girls' parents were a short distance away when the pair walked into the public toilet block together.

Said the article: "They [the family] are very, very deeply stressed by what has occurred to them and to their children," acting Superintendent Yeomans said.

The girls have been examined at Westmead Children's Hospital and are receiving counselling, while the older sister has been interviewed by police.

She told detectives that the assault took a long time, acting Superintendent Yeomans said.

"Their concept of time is quite different to probably an adult's concept of time. I would say it could have taken a few minutes, but that would be more guessing than anything. But to a child, how they explained it to the investigators last night, it took a considerable amount of time," he said.

"The little six-year-old is still very upset by what occurred. The little two-year-old, when it did occur, was very upset, was crying."

He said the girls' parents and extended family were close by, and should not be blamed for what had happened.

"I'd like to say right upfront that we shouldn't put any sort of blame or any sort of inference as to what family or the parents of anyone did in these circumstances," he said.

"They're very good parents. It's the middle of the day, it's school holidays, there's plenty of people around."

Acting Superintendent Yeomans said it was a very unusual offence, and police were using all the necessary resources to find the offender.

Read more here.

Police are searching for a man with black hair, an average-to-thin build and wearing a black jacket and blue shorts. He is described a being of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean appearance, with black hair. He’s reportedly around 165cm tall (or 5ft 4″) and aged in his 30s.

Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with any info you may have.

Deeply distressing stuff.

Have you had a conversation about this kind of attack with your children?

It has prompted me to speak to my daughter about this, in language she can understand.

'Sweetie': stopping webcam child sex tourism

The video has just been uploaded and has received over 1.5 million views.

It's the story of Sweetie, an invention by a Dutch child-rights organisation has to expose sickening child exploitation, with a clever 10 week online sting.

Watch, and be informed... and sadly, sickened:



You can sign the petition now. Read more, and... Click here.

US school massacre: should you shield your kids from the news? Plus, Peter Walsh's view on helping kids feel safe

In devastating news just in, the shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, USA - which left 28 people dead, including 20 school children has gutted an entire nation, and the world.

Here is a clip from Obama's statement:

"We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would – as a parent. And that was especially true today. I know there's not a parent in America who doesn't feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.

The majority of those who died today were children – beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them – birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers – men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

So our hearts are broken today – for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children's innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain."

The news is hard to process for any adult, so imagine how hard it is for a child - both the kids at the very centre of the tragedy, the ones attending the school where the shooting happened. How on earth to be ever be truly helped through counselling. The trauma will be deep and everlasting.

And to a much lesser degree for the kids who hear the news all around the world will be confused and frightened.

Says Michael Carr-Gregg - a child psychologist - on 'Sunrise' this morning:

"A lot of parents in Australia need to keep particularly young children away from the TV news. if they do find out about it i think it's really important to tell t hug them, to tell them they're loved, to say we're a long way those sort of things happening here, we love in one of the safest countries in the world, and then to monitor them  very, very closely."

In the midst of this insanely hard to process tragedy, how will you shield/explain the news to your kids? And the most obvious question: gun laws: what the hell else will it take to change them in the US? Feel free to comment below.

UPDATED: here's what organisational expert Peter Walsh suggests about how to assist your children in feeling safe and making sense of it all, from his Facebook page:

HELPING YOUR KIDS MAKE SENSE OF THIS PAST WEEK – I’ve really been struggling this weekend with the horror and sadness at the shootings in Sandy Hook on Friday. Words seem so inadequate. Talking with friends today, however, made me think of one tangible and positive thing you can do if your kids are struggling with being separated from you this week. Remember that I’ve often said that stuff has power. Use this to your advantage. If your child is fearful, consider creating a ‘talisman’ for them. Talk to your child about what’s happened, comfort and console them, ensure them they’re safe. Then, find something meaningful to you or to them – a piece of inexpensive jewelry, a scarf, a special toy, something small but important – that you can give your child and tell them to keep close. Tell them this object is a way for them to remember how much you treasure them and that if they’re fearful at all to hold this item close and think of you and know you’re thinking of them. This is just a small thing that will help make your love and presence more real for your child, even in your absence. Stuff has power – here’s a chance to use that power for good.

For more on the shooting, click here.

Photo: Facebook

'Is it okay to be left handed?' - Beyond Blue's message

Watch this recent viral clip from Beyond Blue and be moved by the message:

This is the message from the Beyond Blue site about the campaign:

"beyondblue, in collaboration with GLBTI communities and the Movember Foundation, has produced a new national campaign. The campaign aims to improve the communities understanding of discriminatory behaviour and the impact of discrimination on the mental health of GLBTI communities.

The campaign works predominantly with mainstream Australia, and with young people in particular, to improve people's understanding of discriminatory behaviour and the impact that this has. The campaign is designed to prompt people to STOP the discrimination, THINK about how comments you make could cause real distress and harm, and RESPECT people who are different from you."

To get involved and have your say about this campaign visit beyondblue's Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beyond-Blue/114265858590181], or send a tweet using #lefthand"

Edward Duke Rancic: first Halloween outfit

This little celeb dude - Edward Duke Rancic, son of Giuliana and Bill Rancic - has made his Halloween debut in this cute-as-pie outfit.

 

Cute bubba Duke [they call him by his second name] was all dressed up in his football beanie for Halloween. He had a monkey costume ready, but according to Giuliana, "He was NOT in the mood to be a monkey... so daddy won his first costume choice."

 

The defintion of adorbs. And blessed.

 

For more, click here:

 
http://www.mystyle.com/tv-shows/giuliana-and-bill/

Tsung Tsung on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show': six year old child prodigy piano player

Tsung Tsung is a child prodigy piano player... he's only six years old. His performance has to be seen to be believed.

On the 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' overnight sharing his incredible gift with the world, he performed several pieces to a standing ovation. Prior to playing, an interpreter was on set for his interview with Ellen - it's really quite funny to watch.

This is the first time Ellen has flown in such a young guest from China, after she spotted him on YouTube. Tsung Tsung’s proud parents were also in the audience. Watch:

'Call Me Maybe' - Dustin sings for Ellen

This could be the cutest version of 'Call Me Maybe' you've seen so far... show regular Dustin sings probably the most-copied song on earth for Ellen, on her show overnight. Watch! You'll smile wide:



Cute, huh?

Halloween: scary or just good fun? How my reluctance morphed into enthusiasm

Halloween.

Does the word send a shiver up your spine, or excite you ("woo, another reason to dress up!")?

Last week - for me - it was the former.

My daughter said something about Halloween when I picked her up from daycare during our usual daycare-round-up conversation, and immediately my head went to: "Oh no, they've told them about Halloween!" I can't 'hide' this 'festival' from them any longer!"

My head also went to: me reluctantly buying outfits and scary skulls, and sugary lollies and other things in the category I call waste-of-money. I'm no Grinch but it was something I didn't really want my kids to take part in. I am not sure why, but I am sure that reluctance to be 'Americanised' (too late for that) floated around in my head. (And really, most of the time, I do enjoy 'Americanisation').

I hadn't given it much thought since last week. My daughter wanted me to buy a witch hat and a bag of skull-logo lollies on a random trip to Big W on Saturday, and I did. I had no interest in trick or treating and certainly wasn't going to introduce the idea... well at least not until she begged me to when she found out all her friends were doing it...

But today... today, yes... it was a different story.

I was happy to dress up my daughter in a Halloween outfit someone gifted her last year, as all the kids were invited to put on their Halloween best at daycare (I will admit I called the daycare this AM to check: "Are they dressing up in Halloween gear today?"). My daughter loves any excuse for a dress-up (so do I!) and it was a thrill to see her so excited about her outfit and how to coordinate it (again, it in her DNA).

I was not prepared at all for my son, and so popped over to Big W where all the Halloween motif tees were sold out, so I had to make do with a rather funky pair of khaki shorts with tiny skulls all over. A flouro tee with something scary I now can't remember on the front also made the cut. He hates things on his head but he bravely put on those ridiculously fun headband things with horns or some-such scary madness. I am sure he took them off two minutes later, cute little poppet.

The Reject Shop also got a visit... again, they were mostly sold out of spooky merchandise but I did find a silver tinsel skull garland, a fabulous little 'Beware' sign which plays that spooky organ music (Bach's 'Toccata'), and witches hats with flowy black hair. Perfect. Fun enough to be a part of Halloween - not scary enough to freak them the hell out.

And so: will I embrace the Halloween tradition with each passing year? Highly likely. I am already starting to feel twinges of being "peer-pressured mum" - that is, wanting to conform to what everyone else's kids are doing so my kids don't feel left out (trust me, you'll do the same for your kiddies).

But I actually find that I DO enjoy the notion of camaraderie and fun and dress-ups for the kids... and what's so scary about that?

Choice: Expectant Parents Guide

Choice is Australia’s most trusted independent consumer group, and recently, they held a forum of leading experts who discussed the most pressing issues facing parents today. I attended this event and may just have won the unofficial prize for most prolific Tweeter on the day! The reason I connected so much with the content and felt compelled to talk about it is because the forum was so rich with excellent topics and the professionals at the table - moderated by the exceptional Tracey Spicer - really knew their stuff. 

The results of this forum have just been tabled and they were just released.

Misinformation received by parents, particularly around celebrity endorsements of questionable products, marketing and advertising of food as well as the trustworthiness of social media, were the hot topics at the inaugural meeting of the 'Choice Kids and Baby Council.'

A series of short 90 second videos have also been produced that brings each topic to life.  

Here are some:







To see more, go here: http://www.youtube.com/choiceaustralia

Choice has also produced a free, 28-page 'Expectant Parents Guide', which offers invaluable advice to new parents who are navigating a minefield of information. These kind of guides are usually sold by Choice, however this guide is being distributed free of charge to support the important initiative. You can download it free right here:

http://www.choice.com.au/expectantparentsguide

The topics Choice has covered include:

Fashion putting your child at risk: Miranda Kerr endorsing a product [the amber teething necklace] that is not only a potential choking hazard, but its so-called healing powers are biologically implausible. The popular Bugaboo Stroller, which has failed Choice safety standards several times.

Social media – why you need to be sceptical: Social media’s misleading and conflicting opinions that undermine a parent’s intuition. Companies that purchase large amounts of bogus Twitter and Facebook followers to appear more popular and trustworthy to parents.

Advertising to kids – parents should seize back control: Children being directly marketed at, especially food and how a parent’s role in deciding what is best for child is being diminished.

Potential approaches to packaging to address childhood obesity: Dramatic measures discussed for food products that are high in salt and saturated fat.

Feeding baby – should formula be prescription only?: Some women are being castigated in Australian hospitals if they request formula to feed their baby. 

Says Choice Kids and Baby Council Chairperson, journalist Tracey Spicer. "When you have a baby you're almost re-born as a consumer and you’re flying blind when it comes to these products and services."

“You don’t know whose information can be trusted, if the advice you’re getting is credible of simply cleverly disguised advertising or, even worse, if you’re buying products that are downright dangerous.”

Social media expert, Leslie Nasser, warned parents to cast a sceptical eye over the information found online, especially some bogus ‘communities’.  “When it comes to online, Facebook friends, peers and family members are often the best source of information about child rearing,” says Ms Nasser. 

Nasser warned that online communities can be fictional illusions, as a number of companies are now purchasing large amounts of bogus twitter and Facebook followers to appear more popular and trustworthy. These websites and communities are often misleading consumers by selling inferior products and/or dispensing advice that could harm children.

Psychologist Sandy Rae said parents should have faith in their parenting skills.

“Trust what you think is right, as these gut instincts are often undermined by social media,” says Ms Rae.

The guide is an essential tool for ALL parents. Wish it'd been around when I was pregnant with my now four year old twins. Download it now.

Dating and the divorced mum: "As a single mum we are a package."

'Sleepless in Seattle' - ah if only all single parent dating experiences were like this.

Read this real-life story from a single mum who tries dating for the first time:

"If someone had of told me as a teenager that I would be divorced with two young children by 36 I would have laughed at them. “Not me!" would have been my reply. A good Catholic girl, who has her whole life mapped out to the smallest detail. No way was this going to happen to me. I was to meet my prince in shining armour at 24, marry the following year, and have my first child at 29. That was after I had completed university, bought a house, travelled overseas at least once and owned a car. Yes I did everything to a 'T'. So why would I ever think that it would all come to an end. Oh how wrong I was!

At 36 my marriage fell apart and suddenly I was faced with raising two children under age eight, alone. Naturally, it was very daunting. For about a year, I kept it all together, though saddened when my children went to stay with their dad for the weekend. The blow came when he informed me he had met someone new. I went through the stages of anger and decided that maybe it was time to venture out into the world to seek a new partner. Oh my gosh - the dating scene ahhh!! Where to start, though? I went out with a few girlfriends to a local club but that was just pathetic. People drunk and pawing you… this was not where I could find a man to introduce to my children. There it hit me... it is not just me I need to consider here; I had to be selective for their sakes as well as my need for adult companionship.

A friend suggested I try a dating site. It all seemed overwhelming, like checking through a catalogue for that perfect bargain. So… which men are on sale today? Very odd and scary, as I imagined them doing the same to me. For a month I put my profile up and was swarmed with interest; that just freaked me out and I hid my profile again. Finally in the second month I decided to try again. A few people sent a ‘Kiss’. I accepted and started to chat with three different men. They all seemed nice but I guess anyone can from a computer screen. They all asked me for a meal. Hmmm, I guess I had to go.

Now to freak out! Dates and times were set… a busy weekend ahead, but exciting. I dressed for a lunch date, the first one. Now, what to wear? My five year old child came in, “Mum, why does your bum wobble?” Grrr, I think I need to change! Kids can be so cruel. I wish their father would come so I can finish getting ready. 

I feel nervous; what if he didn’t like me? What if he thought I was ugly, dull or fat? Oh my God! It was high school all over again. Those feelings you get when you think you are not good enough or you may get judged came flooding back. Here I was, now 38, going on my first date and feeling like a teenager. It was awful, I didn’t have the rapport, I didn’t know him, he was a stranger… maybe a criminal… okay, the imagination was going wild!

I decided to meet in a public place to ease those thoughts of becoming a crime statistic. It was awkward, he was boring, and he only talked about how great he was to the human race… and I ran like hell. The same for the next date, but the third was different.

We seemed to hit it off. We talked for hours and feelings grew. I felt so comfortable with him. Even his family loved me, and mine didn’t try to turn the sprinklers on him when he entered the yard, so it was great all ‘round. Six months had passed and our children had met. They got on at first, and after nine months, we moved in together. 

Then the cracks grew. It became an ‘us against them’ mentality which caused us great stress. It became too much and we parted after a year and a half. Still friends, but too hurt to ever try again. My children were hurt as well. It was awful; I had put them through another break up, and I felt as low as you could get.

My children will always come first and as a single mum we are a package and they are and will always be the most important people in my life. It was something I had not thought about - the impact of my search for companionship would have on them. I stayed single for a year after that."

Written by "G.A".