This past weekend we drove through Woodstock. I remarked that there were a lot of radar traps and OPP on the road. When we crossed the border into the states – the U.S. customers officer asked us to open the back door to see the children. I thought – she was matching their faces to their passports – how thorough.
When I saw the news last night – I realized – no they weren’t just looking for speeders or routine border patrol – there is a little girl lost. An 8 year old girl, Victoria “Tori” Stafford, has been missing since Wednesday. I remember hearing about her last week, but it didn’t register as I don’t believe they called an AMBER ALERT.
This is every parent’s worse nightmare. Don’t you agree? This morning I talked with Thing 1 & Thing 2 about awareness…
- The only people who will pick them up from school is me, my prince or their grandparents. I wouldn’t send anyone else. If someone else tells them I sent them to pick them up – they aren’t to go.
- Tell me our home phone number.
- If you – ever – get lost in a store go to the cashier. (a kid used to be able to go to any grown-up but blog knows who is a creep and who is a nice guy these days). Nope – go to the cashier. The cashier definitely works for the store, might wear a uniform to make them stand out from strangers, and will certainly have a telephone nearby.
- If anyone does take you (blog forbid) what do you do? Thing 1 said “make noise, scream”. Yes, said I. You won’t get into trouble for yelling.
- If anyone does take you – try to escape to a store or restaurant. “Yes, but McDonald’s doesn’t have phones to call 911” said Thing 1. Every restaurant and store has a phone – you might not see it – but they have phones…ask the cashier.
- Remember, Mommy and Papa will always look for you.
In addition, I think it’s good to consider Sharon’s comment to the Emergency Plans post about kids being scared of firefighters. Police and firefighters can be intimidating in their uniforms – but kids should know they are go-to people for protection.
The recent Woodstock scare has everyone a little more on edge. They’ve been talking about it in school too. My son told me to day ‘he’s on guard. On guard for himself, his friends, and his classroom’. I think he just likes the whole guard idea.