If I were to ask how conscientious you are about keeping your
child safe, you would undoubtedly give me a what-kind-of-parent-do-you-think-I-am
look. That look would then be followed up with a list of all the things you do—make
sure they are well-fed, ride in their car seat or wear a seatbelt, get them
their flu shot, make sure they get proper medical treatment, monitor their
social media, teach them about stranger-danger and bullies, make sure they
dress for the weather, teach them to look both ways before crossing the street,
not to touch a hot stove, and all those other things good parents do.
All the while I would be smiling and nodding; throwing in an
occasional “That’s great”. Then when you
were done talking I would tell you that for all the things you are doing right,
you might possibly be doing something that has the potential to put your kids in
grave danger without even realizing what it is you are doing.
The ‘thing’ I’m talking about is personalizing your kids’
things. Plastering their name on their backpacks, clothes, beach towels, sports
bags, jackets, or anything else they wear or use in public is an invitation to
predators to trick your child into believing they are their friend. Most kids wouldn’t think twice about trusting
someone who ‘knows’ them well enough to call them by name. They don’t stop to
think about how that person even knows their name—which is exactly what the
predator is counting on.
When someone calls us by name we feel an instant connection
to them; we trust them. The same holds true for your child. So when a stranger
calls your child by name, they automatically assume they are a friend—or at the
very least, a safe adult. But we all know that’s not always the case. We know
that child abductions and exploitation (sexual abuse, social media stalking,
etc.) take place every single day. We also know that children are gullible, naïve,
and trusting, so teaching them to be cautious without being paranoid is our
job.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t put your child’s name on their
stuff. I’m just saying there’s nothing wrong with doing it the old-fashioned
way…on the inside and out of plain sight. Putting your child’s name on their
stuff should be done for the purpose of identifying the item if it gets lost.
Anyone who needs to know your child’s name can learn it the right way…the safe
way.
Love,
Momma D
Momma D
"Love, Momma D" is available in paperback and e-reader formats.
You can connect with me on Facebook and see how you can pay it forward by reading my books by visiting my website
Copyright 2018 Darla Noble. No part of this can be used or copied without permission from the author.
