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Back To School
By Amy | August 27, 2007
For many places, children have just gone back to school or are getting ready to go back within the next week or so.
My oldest son, lil’ Mel just started middle school (6th grade) today and even though he thinks he’s all grown now … I still worry about him. 
I dropped him off at the front of the school and watched my little man walk inside (holding back the tears and thinking “Where has the time gone???”).
Before I dropped him off, I handed him a cell phone with very strict instructions: “This phone does not get turned on until school is out or if there is an emergency. Keep it in your pocket and do not flaunt it.”
Ok, I know there is a HUGE debate over kids having cell phones, but with a busy family and unpredictable schedules, it can be necessary or at least make our lives much more organized and SAFE. (We’ll get into the cell phone debate more on another day.)
Every year I watch the news about children being abducted going to or from school, and some of those children do manage to get away, but unfortunately not all of them.
We also hear of children bringing guns and other weapons to school with harmful intentions that none of us really want to hear about.
So, I told lil’ Mel to call me as soon as school got out so I could know where he was exactly (in the sea of children and parents and cars) and guide him on how to get to me. It worked out great.
Now I know that he is getting a little more responsible and maybe I’ll even give him other privileges with the phone as time goes on. (Right now only me and dad have that phone number.)
I also gave him my “never talk to strangers” speech. I believe in being open and honest with my kids about many things. (Which can be difficult to do without providing too much “adult” info at times.)
That speech goes beyond just telling them not to talk to strangers. It includes watching the news together and talking about the kids that get kidnapped or almost kidnapped. We talk about what they can do to deter someone from snatching them.
I tell them that I love them more than anything in the world every morning when I kiss them goodbye. Even on those mornings when nothing goes right and major attitude is flowing my way! 
Remember that we were kids, preteens and teens once too…try to think like them. Try to put things in their perspective. Make them understand how much you love them-even when they aren’t being sweet and innocent-and make them aware of the dangers and evils of this world.
Always have some sort of an emergency plan for a crisis. What is your child(ren) to do if you aren’t there to greet them at the school or bus stop or home (or whatever your normal routine is).
Give them emergency phone numbers. Tell them what to do, where to go, and who to call. Give them details. Practice this information.
Obviously you wouldn’t give a 5 year old this information and expect them to remember it all…but talk to your child(ren) at every step along the way-whatever you deem as age appropriate.
This is for the safety of your child, my child, and everyone else’s child. Let’s work together to keep them all safe!
Please write a comment and tell me what you do or say to ensure the safety of your child! Remember that even as adults we can learn something new all the time…and the more we share the more ways we learn to keep our kids safe!!!
Until next time,
Amy
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