Child Safety...please read!

*This is long but well worth the time!*

Here is a topic that, although is not uplifting, is very important for every parent to read.

I am a complete and udder freak about something happening to my kids; which I'm sure all parents are! I'm almost too overprotective of them; I just can't help it. Today I was watching Dr. Phil and was brought to tears by parents telling their horror stories of their kids being kidnapped. I have gone through different scenarios and tactics with my daughter and have taught her self defense in case of someone trying to abduct her; roll playing works well. She is only 7 1/2 so it is hard to make her realize how dangerous a potential abductor can be. I don't feel like 7 is an appropriate age to tell her that usually when someone abducts a child it's not because they want to be a mommy or daddy (although, sometimes that is the case) but it's because they want to do unthinkable things to them and sometimes end their life. How can you get through to a child that doesn't know about these sorts of things yet? How can we keep our children safe without telling them too much? I would like to avoid the sex questions and talks until she is at least 9.

So reading on Dr.Phil.com I saw some new information to teach kids. It is very interesting because Bob Stuber, "one of the America’s most recognized safety experts and the creator of Safe Escape, a video series that teaches parents and kids how to practice proactive safety skills.", says that teaching kids to stay away from "strangers" isn't a good thing to help them because kids will only picture a scary, unshaven, dirty guy and not the guy or gal next door. He also says that we need to teach kids that if someone is trying to abduct them that it is ok to make any mess, noise or scene that they need to to get attention from people around them. Knocking things off of shelves, throwing things around, screaming and yelling, kicking and throwing themselves on the floor...all good ways to get attention if someone is trying to steal them. If they are wrong, then it was a learning experience (mistake) and can all be cleaned up. Better to be safe than sorry.

Also something he said that really got me was, buying your child an ID bracelet and getting the child's name on the front and "reward" and phone number on the back. If someone steals the child then the child knows to rip off the bracelet and throw it on the ground. Someone will find it and turn it in. Not that that will necessarily bring your child home right away but it can at least give an area of where your child is/was and any of the surveillance videos from surrounding businesses can also give good tips to help finding your child. Please click here to learn more about Bob Stuber and his smart, kid saving tactics. Also click here for other links and information on how to keep your children safe.

The scary thing is that it doesn't always have to be a stranger that kidnaps your child. It could be a family member, friend or even a parent. There isn't a way for kids to be taught that it's not ok to go somewhere with their parent; they are the parent...they are supposed to be doing what's best for them so why would they be scared of going somewhere with them? How do you teach your child about something like this?

I was disgusted and saddened to hear about a man whose wife took their 4 year old son to Brazil for a "vacation" never to return. The father has not seen his son in over four years and his wife just passed. Now his wife's new "husband", in Brazil, has the little boy and won't return him. He (the new husband) is trying to get his (the biological father's) name off the birth certificate! They are currently fighting to get this little boy home. The father has spent an estimated $350, 000 trying to get his son back. It is proving difficult though since the Brazilian courts are saying that it has been too long for anything to really be done about it now. They do, however, agree that the little boy's place should be with his father (his biological one)! Click here to read the full story.

After you read the story you can click here to contact the Department of State or here to contact your State Representative. Ask questions, make comments, tell your own stories. We need to get them to change laws, make things easier/harder, answer questions and get the ball rolling on this. Something needs to be done so that this kind of thing stops and getting abducted children back from overseas becomes easier. And makes it harder for people to get them overseas in the first place.

I know this is long so I thank you for taking the time to read it. I don't know the statistics but it does seem like abductions are happening more and more these days. The sad thing is that with all these new tactics, information, Amber Alerts, news broadcasts and so on, that they don't have to happen if we learn these things and teach them to our children. Please pass this on to your family and friends and let's all stand up together to make a difference in our lives and the lives of children who are being kept overseas against their will.