Sheila Eleven on Survival, Safety, and Speaking Up
Why Children Need Safe Words Now
I believe children need safe words because they give kids power when situations feel confusing or overwhelming. A safe word isn’t just a word; it’s a promise between a child and a trusted adult that says, “You can come to me, no matter what.” It gives children language when they don’t yet have the words, and reassurance that their discomfort matters and will be taken seriously.
When I talk about safe words, I’m talking about trust, agency, and protection. I want children to know they are allowed to speak up, to set boundaries, and to listen to their bodies. Teaching children a safe word helps them understand that they never have to carry fear or uncertainty alone, and that there will always be an adult ready to listen, believe them, and keep them safe.
Most importantly, safe words reinforce an essential truth: children deserve to feel safe in their bodies and supported by the adults who love them. By giving children a safe word, we give them agency, protection, and the confidence to trust their voice—knowing someone will listen.
Speaking Up When Power Fails Children
Too often, the world fails children. Systems meant to protect them move too slowly, look the other way, or place power and convenience above safety and care. When children speak up, they are ignored. When they show fear, it is minimized. And when they are harmed, the responsibility is too often shifted onto their silence instead of our action.
We have to do better. Protecting children is not optional, political, or secondary; it is a moral responsibility we all share. Stepping up means listening when children speak, believing them when they tell the truth, and creating environments where they are safe long before something goes wrong. It means teaching them that their bodies matter, their voices matter, and that there will always be adults willing to stand between them and harm.
The goal has always been simple: to create a body of work that endures beyond the fleeting trends of the digital age. To write with grace, to observe with empathy, and to build a world where the reader can find both a reflection of themselves and a window into another time.
When the world falls short, it’s on us to show up; louder, braver, and more committed than ever. Children don’t need perfection. They need protection. And that begins with us choosing to act.