Yesterday I was eyeballed. Not once but three times. It's gone to my head! My head is two sizes bigger!
My friend Tom believes that children should walk to school. My place is between his place and the school. Since I've known the kids from the start. He asked if I wouldn't mind if the kids could use my house in case they had any difficulties. The kids haven't had any difficulties and they've not had to call at my house. But I have had many awesome visits with them. If I'm out in the yard and they are coming up the street , I get a wave and that means a visit. Since they are both great talkers that means a rather long pleasant visit. They are both bright and the topics they talk about are quite advanced. They are still kids and very enjoyable.
This year April 's brother goes to Middle School and can't walk with her. April has a good friend Philip to walk with. So yesterday I got the wave and met them for a chat. I had not met Philip before but it only took him about thirty seconds to warm up. I learned that obsidian also has a green form. I thought obsidian was only black. That's the kind of kids they are. We had our visit and off they went.
Now I talked to Tom and he told me that his neighbor had seen April talking to a strange man on the street. Tom's neighbor drove around the block so she could check again. April seemed to be comfortable and happy talking to the strange man. Another trip around the block and the man was keeping a proper distance away from April and Philip. So the neighbor concluded that everything was alright.
So I was eyeballed and didn't know it!
So I'm happy that a neighbor knew these kids and was caring enough to keep her eye on them. I'm happy that she reported to April's Dad.
A picture of these two kids would have been awesome. Would I post a picture of them? No. Pictures on the Internet and blogger are not secure. I wouldn't want pictures of children to get into the wrong hands. The only thing I can do is not post their pictures.
oh, i was very happy to hear about the neighbor checking on the kids, too! AND reporting back to her dad. nice neighborhood! caring, careful folks! (and that includes you!)
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hope it stays this way.
DeleteLove parents looking out for the neighborhood kids! I had parents call us when our girls were teenagers and apologize for asking, but were we going to be home when the cast party for the play was going on. Are you kidding? I was delighted that my kids were hanging out with other kids whose parents cared!
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good sign isn't it.
DeleteBetter to be safe than sorry. Your neighbors are doing the right thing to protect these kids. In a perfect world this wouldn't be necessary, but of course we don't live in a perfect world.
ReplyDeleteKey point is "perfect world". But how perfect does the world have to be?
DeleteYou live in a very caring neighborhood, Red. And you are right not to post pictures of children on the internet. I would have been leery of that man talking to April, too.
ReplyDeleteI am probably on the side of being too trusting and maybe I should be somewhat more critical.
DeleteIf you had written this 50 years ago, nobody would have had any idea what you were talking about. In some ways it is a sad reflection on modern life that we can't talk to children any more unless we are vetted and supervised. I can understand the reasons parents have to be careful, but I wonder whether the dangers are that much more these days than 50 years ago and whether we have all become a little too obsessed with danger.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think the same number of molesters are around today as 50 years ago. We are more concerned with the danger as there is much more public awareness.
DeleteWonderful that there are caring neighbors to watch over the kids. And how great that you are so comfortable with the children that they are comfortable talking with you. Kids really are so amazing these days - so smart!
ReplyDeleteI think we have to be aware of the situation but not so much that we spoil some great teachable moments.
DeleteFun to have these visitors,the sharing of knowledge is a lot odf fun also.
ReplyDeleteThey are fun but sadly very few kids walk to school.
Deletenice to have neighbors looking out for each other. enjoy your new friends..bet they enjoy you!
ReplyDeleteI've known April long before she went to school and she's an impressive little girl.
DeleteRed. I totally agree with the comments of Alan.
ReplyDeleteIt has reached the stage here that at school swimming carnivals parents are not permitted to take photos of their kids!!! Cameras are banned.
Now even one Gold Coast junior football club banned parents taking photos - it was top news here and caused a furore!
It is the result of this medium that we are now using, twitting (or whatever it is called), taking photos with mobile phones and then posting them on that thing called "Facebook".
The latest rumpus here is "Trolling" - seems this is World Wide and is sickening - abusive comments. Still why do stupid people put their history and personal thoughts on facebook???
I dunno???
Anyhow great to know that people in your area are keeping an eye out for kids from predators!
What a strange world we have become.
Colin (Brisbane.Australia)
When we were munchkins the few photos taken of us wee carefully guarded by our mothers. Nobody got our picture so that they could modify it. However, I'll bet you gave mustaches to some public poster pictures like for politicians.
DeleteSorry I forgot to add. I started to wonder if your window cleaning experience, as you had been quiet for a while, had resulted in a fall off the ladder. Seems that you survived - ha ha!
ReplyDeleteCheers
Colin
Sometimes I just run out of gas and that's probably a good thing for the readers.
DeleteGood to know that neighbours are watching out for the kidlets.
ReplyDeleteFrank told me a story yesterday of an incident that happened when he checked into a motel a couple of weeks back. He got out of his car (after acquiring the room key) and carried his suitcase into the room. A little girl (approx. aged 4) who was staying next door with her parents followed him inside and started chatting with him. She actually sat herself down on the other bed. He engaged in her conversation a bit and then told her she should not follow people into their rooms. "Your don't know me, dear." She said "Oh that's okay. I know you. You got out of your car and smiled at me." Yikes! She followed him back out where her parents were now glancing around for her. They smiled when they saw her and called her a rascal. It all seemed quite the norm for the family. I found it disturbing. He never saw any of them after that, though he stayed a couple of more days.
Frank's story is scary because if the wrong people encountered this they may jump to conclusions about what was going on. I'm glad she followed him out. It looks like there was no training for this child at all.
ReplyDeleteThey sound like great kids. Kids seem so bright and aware these days. I'm sure they enjoy their visits with you : )
ReplyDeleteThey certainly bring pleasure to my day when they stop. Then I check with their Dad to see what they say. They always tell their Dad they have talked to me and usually what they talk about.
DeleteRed
ReplyDeleteI have NEVER defaced a public photo! Politican or no politican. I may think about it but I do not deface!
Sorry, I didn't mean to seriously accuse you of such actions. I was trying to make a point that before technology it was very difficult to change something. With everything on the internet it can be grabbed and altered.
DeleteYep, Red, nice to know that the kids have you there. We have a similar thing here in our neighbourhood and we have neighbourhood watch, where we all look out for each other. Its a wonderful thing to trust and feel secure with each other and know that you can depend on your neighbours. BTW, you do not look at all STRANGE to me. he,he Take care
ReplyDeleteI think it's easier to set things up in smaller communities where we know more of our neighbors.
DeleteAnd I see there's always a smart ass in the crowd to pick out when I misspeak. Love it. Strange???
It takes a village!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog and following.
DeleteYou are so right about the village idea. I think you've just given me another blog topic.
The world is a different place than when I grew up. It is nice to know the kids have a place to go if need be and that others beside yourself are watching. Sadly that can't be said of all neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I knew that about Obsidian. I have some snowflake obsidian as well. (I did some study of gems a few years ago.)
Cool that you studied about gems. I taught a rock and mineral unit in middle school science. it was a favorite of the kids. Surprising how many went into a part of the field.
DeleteHi Red, It is good for kids to have lots of good people looking out for them:)
ReplyDeleteThere are very few kids who walk to school here. That's sad.
DeleteIts always nice to have kids around for visits. It is a sad that we now live in a world where even older people are mistrusted. Cheers, Ruby
ReplyDeleteI go through life somewhat oblivious to mistrust. It hits me once in a while and it hurts.
DeleteYou are funny! (ツ)
ReplyDeleteI used to love walking to school in Toronto. Times have changed.
What do you think about this? It has been in the news here in Oz that airlines have a policy of NOT seating men next to unaccompanied children! This came to light recently when a male passenger who happened to be a school teacher with a Blue Card (police clearance required by anyone who works around children) was asked to change his seat after he was accidentally given a seat next to an unaccompanied child. He went public about this, saying the way the stewardess addressed him made him appear to be a potentially dangerous person to be seated next to a child. The issue is still being discussed in newspaper opinion pages. Is it right that our airlines consider all men to be potential pedophiles?
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have some pretty awesome friends who happen by every now and again and I think it's fantastic the neighborhood is on watch. Our children are our greatest gift and to be protected, I couldn't agree more and I'm glad that the lady who spotted the children talking to someone they didn't recognize let the parents know. There's too many people who look the other way in my opinion and say something after something transpires, when it's to late.
ReplyDeleteI love the young man taught you something, I think that's priceless. We can learn so much through children, as they can from us.