Keeping Our Precious Ones Safe

As I sit here tonight tired from a long day of work, craziness and more craziness I take a moment to read my emails.  I come across one from my daughter's school.  Sometimes we get so many email from the school system I just hit delete, but I am so glad I took a moment to pay attention and read more. and this one I was not prepared to see.

Safety Alert  It read in bold type letters.  My eyes quickly made it through the first paragraph and I read phrases like...

"made aware of two situations"

"involving suspicious behavior"

"middle school and high school females were approached"

"both situations have been reported to law enforcement"

Those are NOT phrases you want to hear when it is concerning any child's safety!  There were two subdivisions given that are in our school district.  I am unsure of how close, but the thought of 1.  those two poor girls 2.  the sick man who did this. and  3.  what if it could have been my sweet Grace.  

I was just talking to my daughter tonight at dinner about Internet safety and stranger danger.  I am the type of mother that still watches as my child plays outside.  I must know where she is and what she is doing.  Overprotective?  I do not think so.  I want my daughter to be as safe as possible.  I understand some parents allow their children to play on their own, throughout the neighborhood, but I am just not to that point. I hope and pray Grace would always make the correct decisions.....it's the strangers that scare me and that I do not trust!

I remember growing up and playing outside all night and not having to return until it turned dark.  Man, I could not handle Grace out in the neighborhood, not knowing where she was for hours.  I just couldn't do it.  The closest I come is allowing her to play on our own street with her friends where I can check on her or another parent is keeping an eye on them.    

I came across this website, which I am sure many have passed at some point.  National Center for Missing and Exploited Children    Just an awesome site for both kids and parent to visit together.  I encourage your to sit down with your child and visit the site together.  Discuss Internet safety and "stranger danger."  There are also great quizzes for both parent and child.  Definitely worth 30 minutes of your evening and your child's!