For Elizabeth Smart, the journey from a teenage kidnapping victim to a mother of three has been defined by a delicate balance: how to instill vigilance in her children without robbing them of their innocence.
In a recent interview, the 37-year-old advocate spoke about the daily challenge of parenting after trauma. “I never want my kids to live in fear,” she explained. “But it’s equally important they understand that not everyone has good intentions.”
Smart’s perspective was forged by her own nightmare. At age 14, she was taken from her Utah bedroom at knifepoint and endured nine months of captivity and repeated assault before being rescued in 2003. Her captors, a street preacher and his wife, were later convicted and imprisoned.
Today, Smart and her husband are raising their three young children with a foundation of open dialogue about personal safety. Central to their family conversations are the concepts of bodily autonomy, clear boundaries, and consent.
“I tell them constantly that their bodies are not shameful or bad,” Smart stated. “And that no one has permission to touch them without their clear okay.”
She urges parents to have difficult but necessary plans. “If your child says someone’s hugs feel ‘weird’ or that a person frightens them, what’s your response? Is that individual still welcome in your home? These are critical discussions to have with your partner and your kids.”
Smart’s warning carries a chilling personal footnote: her abductor had previously worked as a handyman at her family’s home, a reminder that threats can sometimes emerge from familiar circles.
Now a prominent voice for victim advocacy and child protection, Smart channels her painful past into purposeful parenting. Her goal is not to spread alarm, but to equip a new generation with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the world safely.
