Thursday, December 10, 2009

Abduction

I've been trying to decide whether or not to post this, and I've decided that it's too important to let it go untold. While I have grown accustomed to seeing news reports about children being abducted, I never think about the possibility that it could happen close to home. Those stories always seem so far removed from my daily life that I tend to gloss over them. It's easier that way, isn't it?

When Snow White was very small she used to wander off from time to time. I remember telling her once that she HAD to stay with me or a bad person would take her away and hurt her. She was scared, and from that point on she held my hand when we were out in public. As she has gotten older, I have continued to remind her of the dangers that may be lurking. I've gotten the obligatory teenage eye-roll more than once for reminding her for the hundredth time that she should never go to the mall alone, or that she should park in a well-lit area after dark. You get the idea.

I received a phone call from Snow White yesterday morning. She was crying, and bordering on hysteria. She had just been informed that one of her childhood friends had been abducted the night before. In an instant, all of my warnings became a horrible reality for my daughter.

To make matters worse, her friend was abducted from her own church parking lot. Yes, you read that correctly. The psycho took her from a CHURCH PARKING LOT!! I recognize the fact that we live in a mad, mad world right now, but I cannot fathom NOT feeling safe at church. Are we really that far gone?

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Snow White's friend is home safe. I'm not so sure about the sound part. Time will tell. Thank the good Lord she did not end up a mere statistic.

Despite the outcome, I have had cold chills ever since I received that call. We can't always be there to protect our children, but we CAN teach them to be more cautious. After a LONG conversation last night, I believe that my daughter will now be a lot more attentive to her surroundings. We also plan to take a self-defense class the next time it's offered at our gym.

PLEASE talk to your children over and over and over and over about stranger danger and about paying attention to their surroundings at ALL TIMES! Make this your topic of conversation over dinner tonight. I don't care how old we are, we can always use a gentle reminder to be careful out there in that cold, cruel world.

11 comments:

I Am Woody said...

Thank God her friend is OK!! I have chills just reading this.

Unknown said...

And SCREAM...tell your children to scream if they feel threatened. I would rather people think I'm a looney than get abducted. Ok, so no one will abduct Grandma J, they'll just hit her over head and steal her purse.....but you know what I mean.

Thank you, BHE for the PSA. I'm so glad Snow White's friend is home safe.

Mental P Mama said...

OMG!!!! I am glad she made it home....they still haven't found that girl from Tech who disappeared in C'ville. Such a scary world. Scary.

Daryl said...

(((Big Head))))

When I was wee and being horrid (hard to believe, huh?) my mom told me that if anyone kidnapped me they'd drop me at the first corner they came to because I was so bad.

Amazingly I did not grow up traumatized! Or scared. Wait. I live in NYC ... where people from Maryland think everyone is an axe murderer ...just ask Kate's co-workers

xo

T said...

Thank god the young lady is home.

This is always fore front in my mind whenever I let my girls out of my sight. They get the lecture EVERY time they go somewhere (even with their father). Yes, there are eye rolls - but you know what, I don't care. I want it fresh in their minds every damn time.

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is my biggest fear...someone getting one of my kids. I don't know how parents can go on after losing a child like this. I am SO happy SW's friend is home...let the healing begin. I do talk to my girls about this, but will do again today.
Hugs to you,
suz

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Oh my God, this is frightening. Awful. Terrible, but at least she's now safe. I cannot even imagine, especially around here, and especially in a church parking lot!

Things I've told my children, especially when they were really, really young (as in 3 or 4), was if they got lost from me to go to the nearest WOMAN or Grandmother looking person (even though women/grandmothers can be bad too, don't get me wrong, but the odds are better they'll be helpful rather than maniacal.)

For older kids and women, I say to use that panic button on the car key chain as if it were an alarm. Sleep with the keys by your bed at night. If anyone breaks in, grab keys, hit the button.

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear of this, and my thoughts are with the girl and her friend, Snow White.

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

You know how I feel about this BHE.
Thank God Snow White's friend is home. Have they caught the bastard who did this?
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HalfAsstic.com said...

What a wonderful post! And you are SO right. Thank you for reminding everyone again!
I hope SW's friend is going to be OK. I will pray for her.

Caution/Lisa said...

Doesn't it seem that things are worse than they used to be? It is a terrifying world and you can be sure this family will do some serious talking this week-end.

Diane said...

Ugh... I hate not feeling safe. Hug your baby close! I hope everything will be okay with her friend!