Within an hour, with the help of our many videos and photos from cameras around our home, the individual had been identified and every single official we spoke to confirmed our fears and our actions. They educated us on how to keep our kids safe, put a flag on our home address, and agreed that what had happened wasn’t acceptable from anyone who doesn’t know our family personally. No one should call a child to their car, give them anything without their parent’s consent and knowledge, and in this time and age they even mentioned the crucial aspect of social distancing for delivery workers and the breach of that, alone.
Why am I taking the risk to tell you this? Especially when technically ‘nothing happened’.
Because I’m shaken. I’m angry and I’m sad. Our boys can’t play out front anymore. We’ve had to role play and develop “safe words” for our kids. We’ve shown them what houses to run to if they need help and what to yell if someone tries to take them.
We’ve had to consider our son Hunter, who has no words. No concept of safety, especially when he’s at his own HOUSE! Local authorities now know who he is and have a photo of him on file.
I’ve seen the Facebook posts and watched the Instagram stories about trafficking attempts and kidnapping and grooming. I’ve re-watched them all over the past few days.
Not ONE single thing separates what happened to our boys from what happened in those videos except one thing: This happened at our HOME!!
I thought I’d know. I thought I’d be ready. I watch them so carefully! I always know what’s going on around us.
It took us 15 minutes for a red flag to even wave in our gut and he was gone.
Until next time…?!
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8
I don’t know what to tell you. I’m clearly not a pro and I have a lot to learn myself about watching my children and what goes on around us. But please be sure they know what you consider to be a “stranger.”
Find a “safe word” — one that only you and they know. If an adult approaching them hasn’t been given their safe word from you, they know that person isn’t safe! It’s easy. Get some cameras. The ones we have aren’t expensive but they worked so well! Keep your kids with you.
We don’t often get second chances. I don’t know exactly what this was, but I’m so incredibly thankful for what we learned and for a second chance.
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This post originally appeared at On Loan from Heaven, published with permission.
