|
This
episode happened about two years ago, but I felt it was a story that
cannot be told enough. You just never know what kind of people
there are out there - even in a small town.
A
Mother's Worst Fear
Yesterday,
someone followed my daughters. They had walked a block and a half
from home to get a can of soda and a piece of candy - their daily
treat for helping me around the house. They noticed the man standing
there, but thought nothing of it, since we live in a small friendly
town. They got their sodas from a vending machine and started the
walk back home. Jessica noticed the man walking behind them, so she
whispered to Amber for them to cross the street. They crossed...the
man crossed. Jessica whispered to Amber for them to cross the street
again. They crossed...the man crossed. By this time they were very
frightened. Once more they crossed the street...and once more, the
man also crossed. Luckily, by this time, they were close to a local
video store. They were running as they approached the store. They
hurried inside and told the clerk what was going on. The clerk looked
out, and the man was standing outside the store looking in. She got
my girls calmed down, and as soon as the man started up the street,
she called the police and then drove them home. When they got home,
and the lady told me what had happened, chills went up and down my
spine. All I could think was, "NO...not in OUR town!" I
chose to live in a small town rather than a big city because of
incidents like this. Now I'm scared to let my girls walk the distance
of the store. I'm scared to let them play in the park behind our
house. I'm scared to let them go next door to play with the neighbor
boy. My girls have sat down and reviewed all the safety rules I've
ever taught them. I was very proud of them for their quick thinking
to go into the video store. MY kids were lucky...but one thought
keeps going through my head...What about someone else's kids? What if
someone else's kids have never been taught the safety rules? What
might have happened? I suppose the main reason I'm sharing this with
you all is because I would like to make you aware of the dangers out
there, no matter how small and friendly your town is. Sit down with
your kids and outline a game plan for certain situations such as this
one. Do it today. Please? God Bless you...and keep your children safe. |
