It Can Happen Anywhere: A Frightening Experience for My Daughter

home insemination Kit

Updated: June 16, 2021

Originally Published: Aug. 21, 2016

We thought we had taken all the right precautions, yet it still happened.

We chose a neighborhood filled with caring neighbors and wide, safe streets. Our children are enrolled in a school district celebrated for its top-notch teachers and low crime rates. They’ve been taught how to dial 9-1-1 and know to reach out to a neighbor in case of emergencies. We drilled into them the importance of “Stranger Danger” — scream, kick, and yell if someone tries to grab you. If you ever feel lost, just find a mom; she’ll help you. All these lessons were instilled from a young age.

But despite our best efforts, an unsettling incident occurred. One summer morning, amidst the chaos of summer activities, I was juggling work assignments, camp drop-offs, and playdates while trying to squeeze in a workout. My 11-year-old daughter, blissfully unaware of my frantic schedule, pleaded to stay home and walk our dog instead of joining me at the gym. “Can’t I just stay here? The dog needs a walk anyway. Pleeeease?” In my rush, I thought it would be easier to let her go. We discussed how to reach me and I dashed off, glancing back to see her happily skipping down the street with our dog by her side.

I thought, I’ll only be gone for an hour. She’ll be fine. Our neighbors are around.

But she wasn’t fine. During her usual half-mile stroll at the end of our street, a strange man in a car slowly approached and stopped. He rolled down his window and began asking her questions about our dog. “What’s her name? What kind of dog is she? How old is she?” Then, he turned the questions toward her: “What’s your name? How old are you?”

My daughter, not wanting to be rude, answered him even as warning bells rang in her mind. He continued to engage her, almost stalling her, making her increasingly uncomfortable and scared. She didn’t recognize him, having never seen him in our neighborhood, and wisely kept her distance from his car. Thankfully, she decided to run home, and he drove away. By some miracle, she made it home safe and sound.

No thanks to me, of course.

In that brief hour, our lives could have taken a terrifying turn because I had become too complacent in what I thought was a secure environment. After speaking with the local police and filing a report, I learned some crucial lessons:

1. Always equip your children with a cell phone when they’re out alone. If my daughter had a phone that day, she could have called 9-1-1 immediately. According to the officer, even just dialing the phone might have scared off the potential predator.
2. Kids should never feel obligated to help adults. My daughter realized something was amiss because “Daddy never stops to talk with little girls he doesn’t know.” Teach your kids that if a stranger asks for help, it’s a warning sign.
3. Maintain a safe distance from approaching vehicles. It only takes seconds for someone to snatch a child through an open window. Instruct your child to stay out of arm’s reach of vehicles. If they can touch the car, they’re too close.
4. Being assertive could save their lives. My daughter hesitated to be rude to the stranger. We’ve since practiced how to shout, “Leave me alone!” and emphasized that they owe nothing to strangers, not even a polite smile.
5. Never let your guard down, no matter how safe you feel. This has been a tough lesson for us to digest. While most people are kind, we cannot afford to relax our safety standards when our kids are away from us. It’s better to be seen as an overprotective parent than to ignore potential danger.

As terrifying as this experience was, I’m grateful it happened. It opened up a vital conversation about safety in our household, and both our children now understand our worries. Most importantly, it showed me just how brave my daughter truly is — she’s taught me a thing or two about courage.

If you’re on a journey toward parenthood, consider checking out resources like Women’s Health, which offers excellent information on fertility, or explore this guide for insights on home insemination. And for more helpful tips, don’t forget to read our post at Intracervical Insemination.

Summary:

This article recounts a frightening incident where the author’s daughter encountered a potential predator while walking the dog. Despite having prepared their children with safety lessons, the experience served as a wake-up call about the importance of vigilance and open dialogues about safety. It emphasizes the need for children to have cell phones, the significance of setting boundaries with strangers, and the necessity of staying alert regardless of perceived safety.