…it is completely embarrassing and heart-wrenching to be slapped in the face with the reality that, in fact, you really haven’t.
This past weekend, we traveled to a park in the Heights area expecting to meet up with the folks at Channel 2 to discuss playground safety. We weren’t given much information to go on and quite honestly, we had absolutely no idea what to expect.
But what happened on Saturday changed our lives. Put things into perspective. Broke our hearts.
It made my husband and I realize that we have failed our children.
It totally opened our eyes and made for a valuable lesson for the whole family.
KPRC Channel 2 is doing a segment on child safety and we are part of the segment along with fellow Houston Blogger, Sara of MommaFindings.com. My hope is that what you learn from this segment will protect your family in the future.
My middle child (he’s five years old) was the first one to go through the experience. We were asked to place him on the bench in a crowded park and tell him to stay there no matter what. I was placed just outside of the park, but where I could see what was going on. There were multiple cameras and I was confident that my child was not in any type of danger.
We had him there alone for just a minute or so when an older gentleman who was from R.A.D Texas approached him. The older gentleman proceeded to tell him about his lost dog and had his cell phone out showing him pictures of the lost dog.
What happened next absolutely broke my heart.
My son stood up from the bench and was about to start going with the gentleman.
A woman who was just a bystander in the park happened to witness what was going on and since she was unaware of the segment that was being filmed, she interrupted and with a few choice words, protected my son from the “abductor”.
Talk about a whirlwind of emotions. I went from completely devastated that my son would have gone, to completely elated that there are other parents who care enough to interrupt shady situations.
Although it was not a “real” situation, I definitely felt real emotion. Emotion I don’t ever want to feel again.
They decided they wanted to see how my daughter (she is eight) would respond. I was almost certain that she would not go. We had taught her that she should never go with anyone she doesn’t know. If someone approached her, she was to scream as loud as she could.
But, much to my dismay, when an older lady who was with R.A.D. approached her with the same scenario as with my son, she got off the bench, turned around to make sure her brothers were swinging away on the swing and proceeded to walk along with the lady in search of her lost dog.
She truly had no idea of the danger she could have been in if it had been a real situation. She was calling the name of the lost dog and she walked down the path that led out of the park.
Because this wasn’t a real situation, I was waiting for my daughter as she approached the gate to leave the park. I was able to use this opportunity to explain to her the danger she could have been, reiterate how important it is to scream if an unfamiliar person approaches and tell her how much I love her.
To be honest, I am so thankful to KPRC for giving us this opportunity. It was a learning experience for us and I hope that everyone who watches the segment on February 6th at 10pm will learn from it as well. Unfortunately, predators come in all shapes, all sizes and all genders and we have to make sure our children are aware of the danger that is out there.
I took a real quick video right outside the park so please forgive the picture quality and sound. We were by a busy road and you can definitely hear the road noise.
Please let this be a warning! Please make sure your children know the dangers that are out there.
About Crystal
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Wow. I am so glad that this was not a real situation. I hope that more people will learn from this and teach their children not to go with strangers, and also tell the who exactly a stranger is.
Oh, wow. I’m with Karen and I hope that other’s can learn from this experience. I know that looks can be so deceiving.
Just reading this made my heart sink. I can’t imagine how it would feel to see my child walk away with a stranger. Thanks for the reminder to go over the rules about “stranger danger.” I will be talking to them tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day……
That would be so hard. I need to have another talk with my kids. Unfortunately, kind, compassionate children feel compelled to help and forget that it could not be safe. . Especially when the people asking look harmless.
Crystal, although I was there with you, reading your post breaks my heart again. It’s just TOO easy for kids to fall for the “Can you help me find my dog?” act from a stranger. As parents, it’s scary, but we have the tools to teach them and, thanks to KPRC, we have this situation as a real LIVE moment they can remember if they’re ever in a situation like that again.
Btw….
You have NOT failed them. {Hugs}
That’s so scary. I worry about this with both of my children. I have talked to my daughter about not talking to or going with strangers. But, she is so young. Same age as your daughter. This really has my attention.
This scares me. I would love to do a segment like this with my children to see what they would do. Like Sara said you have not failed them, I think like most children, they want to help and feel bad if they can’t. We have to reiterate over and over not to go with ANYONE for ANYTHING!
Gosh they should do these mock trials in schools…so scary to know that as much as we instill in them, they still can be lead away with a stranger! Yikes.
WOW, I know my children would walk off with someone at this point. This is something I need to instill in their heads. DO NOT GO WITH STRANGERS. I’m glad you had this opportunity and shared it with us
That is so scary. Thank you for sharing this Crystal. We will need to reiterate “stranger danger” again to my 5 year old. I’m sure she would’ve got up to help the “sweet old lady” and find the dog …which totally scares me. Will have to see if we can tune in to watch this segment. Wow!
Oh my gosh! (and you know what, that is usually the scenario…someone who looks trustworthy, appeals to them and needs their help, has “proof” of what they claim- it all seems so honest to good kids)…that is SCARY!
Oh Crystal, my heart broke reading this. I have though would my kids have done that too. I would like to believe they wouldn’t go but you just don’t know if the person comes across as sweet and nice with a good story, my kids might be ones to walk off as well. I think part of that is b/c we have always taught them to help others, maybe that is what crossed your children’s minds. I think I learned from this post that I am going to take time to make sure my kids know when it’s okay to help someone and when it’s dangerous. Please know you are a wonderful wonderful mom and you in no way have failed them.
WOW. This really makes me step back and wonder what my kids would do in this situation. My 4 year old who doesn’t really communicate would go, just because he doesn’t understand. But it makes me wonder what my 6 year old would do. What an eye opening experience, thanks for sharing.
Every parents worst nightmare. We try and try to teach them but sometimes children are too trusting. They are expecting bad guys to look bad. I’d like to think I have taught my children better but sadly I think my kids probably would do the same thing as yours. How do we fix it? I have no idea!
Crystal,
So glad your kids are alright and that you had an opportunity to learn from it…although HORRIFYING! We too have had this terrifying scenario occur in our family with our little boy a couple years ago. You feel like everything is in slow motion and your the star in one those scary movies where the kids get abducted. Thank the Lord our son was fine! Looking back it was also a blessing in that our son and us as parents LEARNED from such a valuable lesson. On a side note I really enjoy your blog!
WOW. This is very eye opening for me. It makes me wonder what my children would do.. I’d like to think they wouldn’t go with anyone, but honestly how do we know until it’s too late?
You did not fail your children. Sometimes, “trust worthy” adults can fool anyone, kids and adults. Reading this has definitely helped me, I will be doing even more now to ensure that my kids are aware of the dangers and know to never, ever go with someone they don’t know.
Hugs. Thank you for posting this, I can imagine how hard it was!
I like you, would say that I “know” my son wouldn’t go with a stranger. But… maybe he would. If they seemed grandfatherly/grandmotherly and friendly. And he loves dogs and helping people. I will be talking to my son about this again over the weekend. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
This is definitely a wake up call and reminder to role play with my kids. Often kids think “bad person” will have a certain look. It’s great that you had this opportunity and I’m so glad you shared your experience with us.
I feel completely certain that you’re not alone here. I’ll bet a HUGE percentage of children would go. I think it’s a blessing that you were given this opportunity to open a discussion and prevent any real danger from happening in the future.
Wow, reading this put a touch of anxiety in my heart. We definitely need to brush up here, as well.
i seriously just started cry. this is an every day fear of mine. My daughter is 7 and from her personality I just fear that she would be one of these kids to just get up and leave. I talk to her about it almost every single day but I just do not think she REALLY gets it. It scares me soooo bad. I wish I could get connected to something like this so I could test my daughter like you were able to do, although I’m sure I’ll cry even more when I see my daughter walking away.
Wow. I have a very social, very helpful son and we have had the “lost dog” conversation many times. I’m not sure what he would do in that situation even with all of the warnings. We have told him very clearly:
ADULTS YOU DON’T KNOW SHOULD NOT EVER ASK A KID FOR HELP – THAT IS NOT NORMAL.
Not to help find a dog, a kid, or for directions.
Oh I just want to give you hugs right now!!! We all think that “our” children would know what to do. I’m going to have a talk with both my kids as soon as they get home from school. THANK YOU for talking about such an important topic!
Kas
WOW!!
Many years ago when I was just a teen we did a similar scenario as this with my good friends son, then 4. He also went along with the friend of hers he didn’t know during this “test” Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It will certainly remind us all to have a refresher stranger danger lesson and perhaps you’ve even saved a child without knowing it!
WOW! I always tell my kids that sometimes really bad people could look really nice. We have a code word that if some one ever tells them to go with them they’re supposed to use.
WOW!
There is truly no way to know what our kids might do. My children both had “passwords”, in fact I wrote an article about it. http://ezinearticles.com/?Protect-Your-Child-With-a-Password&id=209265 As a mom it’s beyond frightening to try to prepare our kids, not scare them senseless and then pray it all comes together. So happy to read your post and hope that many many parents will learn and take the time to consider yet another conversation with their kids.
I’m so paranoid about everything.. Hubby thinks I’m crazy but I’m just VERY cautious..
That is so scary! I am always talking to my twin boys both 5 about strangers because they are so bubbly and outgoing with everyone. And even though you don’t want to squelch that its hard to constantly remind them about not talking to strangers unless mommy and daddy say its ok and without out scaring them to death.
I crying from reading that. Iits a horrible fear. I never leave my children alone in a park but it just makes you wonder if children who were taught that it’s so important to run from stranger danger no matter situation they approach you with if a child can be so venerable to help what really could happen. I’m using this to share with my children the importance NOT going with anyone unless they brought u there..
sending u a big hug
That is so scary! Even when you think that your child knows what to do, putting something like a dog’s safety and well being into question will definitely tempt a child.
wow, i completely understand when you say you had real emotion, eventhough it wasnt real, it makes your stomach wrench to think that you’re child would go with someone just like that. This should be a learning experience for your kids, and when my kids get older i would love to do something like this, because it is a scary place out there.
Real or not, that would have totally scared the crap out of me. Great learning tool!
Wow! What a wake up call! I need to talk with my kids again!
Oh my goodness, so scary. A wake up call for sure!
This is really scary. I worry myself sick, having a child with Autism. He is too trusting and it terrifies me!
Oh Crystal… This made me cry watching the video and reading your post. Your children are so precious and sweet down to the core. I’ve loved spending time with them at past events. It’s sad that these kind of situations do exist and play off the true kindness of children to lure them away. I’m so glad they were able to learn from this lesson. You are a great mother, remember that!