Written by Priya Murphy, Chief Development Officer

Motherhood is one of the greatest privileges and honors of my life. As a mom to a thriving 7-year-old boy who was once a tiny, two-pound, 12-ounce preemie, I still find myself in awe of how quickly children grow.

My son entered this world through an emergency C-Section at just 32 weeks due to complications we both faced, and he spent his first month in the NICU. Cheers to all the NICU moms out there — you are some of the strongest women I know. The fear, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion that come with watching your baby fight to grow and survive changes you forever. It often creates a deep instinct to protect your child at all costs.

I will never forget the words our pediatrician told us during my son’s very first appointment after leaving the NICU:

“You are the only protection your baby has.”

She explained that because of his fragile little body (only four pounds at the time), we had to do everything possible to protect him from germs and infection. Wash our hands constantly. Limit visitors. Avoid crowded places. Make sure anyone holding him was healthy and careful. Hearing those words filled me with an overwhelming sense of responsibility. We followed every instruction diligently, and today, by God’s grace, we have a healthy and thriving 7-year-old boy.

But as my son grew, I began to realize that protecting our children goes far beyond protecting them physically. One of the greatest joys of working at New Friends New Life for nearly nine years has been witnessing the resilience of mothers and children who walk through our doors. Many of the women in our program are survivors of exploitation and trafficking, and yet they continue fighting for a better future for their children.

I remember one survivor sharing with me:

“If it weren’t for my daughter, I would have ended my life a long time ago after everything I endured.”

Her daughter became her reason to survive.

Today, that same mother is determined to create a different future for her child. She enrolled her daughter in our Youth Resource Center to help protect her from exploitation and trafficking. Every day, I get to witness healing, empowerment, and generational transformation happening right before my eyes. NFNL is helping break cycles of trauma and abuse - not just for mothers, but for their children too.

While parenting is one of life’s greatest joys, the responsibility of safeguarding our children can also feel overwhelming. In today’s world, parents must be more intentional than ever before. Online exploitation, sextortion, predators hiding behind screens, AI deepfakes, and increasing abuse against children are heartbreaking realities we cannot afford to ignore.

When my son was only 3 years old, I began teaching him about “safe touch” and “unsafe touch.” At times, you wonder if young children truly understand what you are teaching them, but they absorb far more than we realize.

When he was 4 years old, we traveled to India to visit family. One evening, I was preparing a sermon to preach at church the next morning and wasn’t feeling well, so I asked my sister to help bathe him. A few minutes later, she came running out of the bathroom laughing and said, “Your son won’t let me wash him! He slapped my hand away and said, ‘This is not safe touch — only my mommy or daddy can touch me there.’”

I burst out laughing, but in that moment, I also felt incredibly proud.

My son understood. He remembered. And he felt empowered to speak up.

As parents, we must intentionally teach our children the skills they need to protect themselves. Predators do not always look dangerous. They can be relatives, neighbors, teachers, pastors, coaches, or strangers online pretending to be someone they are not. We can never be too cautious when it comes to protecting our children.

Most importantly, our children need to know this:

There is nothing they could ever say or do that would make us stop loving them.

Traffickers and predators often rely on shame, secrecy, fear, and isolation. But when children know their parents are a safe place without condemnation, they are far more likely to speak up when something feels wrong. Open communication can become one of the greatest forms of protection we give our children.

Here are a few resources I encourage every parent to explore:

· 10 Ways Parents Can Prevent & Identify Human Trafficking

· 21 Apps Parents Should Know About

· 7 Tips for Teaching Children Good Touch and Bad Touch

· Sextortion: A Growing Threat Targeting Minors

Motherhood is not about living in constant fear. It is about living with wisdom, awareness, courage, and intentionality. Our children do not need perfect parents; they need present parents. Parents who are willing to have hard conversations, create safe spaces, stay informed, and fiercely protect the hearts and futures of the children entrusted to them.

To every mother reading this: trust your instincts, stay informed, and never underestimate the power of your presence in your child’s life.