Wasn't sure where to post this.
Somehow, Office Party doesn't seem quite right, but I've a strong need to get this out to those of you that are parents. I'm sure the mods will move this, if need be.
We live in a society that now requires us to keep our children warned from a very young age of the potential dangers in associating with strangers.
I often think of how naive my own childhood was in comparison to that of my two daughters and son.
Today, one of the many scenarios that I've warned 'could happen' played out--to MY daughter.
We're on a military base, an extremely SMALL military base, so one would assume we're a little more exempt from these types of situations.
I've learned the hard way, spending a lifetime under a black cloud, if I think it, that's because it can/will come to pass.
My daughter was in the Baskin Robins line for ice cream. I was inside our BX finishing up X-mas odds and ends shopping; waiting in line. The Baskin Robins is but 15 feet away--at most--but around a wall that divides the food court from the BX. Those of you not military, a BX is somewhat like a uber mini Walmart/Target/Sears.
My daughter came rushing towards me, a look of horror on her face.
"What's wrong with you?"
'Mom. A man...he came up to me...showed me i.d. that said he was security...he wanted me to leave with him, said I have to come with him right now, to his office--"
"What? What man? Did you do something?"
"No. I was getting ice cream. I said I have to get my mom before I go anywhere with you. He said no, I wasn't allowed to get you, that I had to come to his office right this minute. Then he tried grabbing my arm. I moved around the table and walked really fast to where you were."
I asked the cashier if she could call management, and that I would be leaving my cart with her. She was on that phone in a second while my daughter and I stormed out to the mini-food court--momma in a killing mood. We didn't see the man. Management came out. We described the situation to them. They contacted their security. None of the individuals were this man.
Thank God for security cameras.
They caught the whole thing on tape. And it's not grainy like you see in movies. They were able to zoom in on his face.
He's a national. They contacted the front gate. The base went into an immediate lock down. Police came and took a report, then came to the house. They had Turkish military police with them. Whew...those Turkish military...they.don't.play!
THEY GOT THE BASTARD!!!
They won't give me details of who he is or how he came to be on our base.
I really don't give two shits.
The only thing I care about is that a story/warning that I told my daughters, an example of how a potential preditor could trick them with intimidation (probably when she was about six), stuck in her mind all these years later.
Sometimes, it sucks being a parent. The short leash we have to keep our kids on. I remember, at seven, riding my bike for miles and miles. . .hiking through desert mountains on my own since I was eight. . .it's a different world now. I'm the parent that panics when she wants to go on her own into the food court while I'm in the main store shopping--at Ramstein AFB, this would NEVER happen, my answer would have been no, because that place was just toooo huge. But this base is so small, had she screamed, I'd have heard her even from the back of the store.
And the one time I said....okay...here's a few dollars...go enjoy a little independence....
We both agreed: screw that. She said she'll hold my hand until she's 18, before going through that again. Good thing. I'm an old mom. I don't think I could take that again.
Just wanted all of you to know so that those that never thought of a scenario like this, when teaching your kids what to beware of...the tricks these creeps use to convince your kids to leave with them...or get in their car...
Anyway. . .I asked if I could have 5 minutes with this guy. The cop chuckled slightly and said, 'No, ma'am, we need him alive for further questioning.'
Apparently, he's experienced with the wrath of a furious momma whose cub's been threatened.
As for my daughter? Both want to sleep with momma tonight. No problem. I think it's just as good for me as it will be for them. I'm still shaking.
And my husband. . .the man is STILL pacing. I think this will haunt him for a very long time. That man thing. The need to protect his family. Yeah, I think this will definitly mess with him for quite a long time.
Somehow, Office Party doesn't seem quite right, but I've a strong need to get this out to those of you that are parents. I'm sure the mods will move this, if need be.
We live in a society that now requires us to keep our children warned from a very young age of the potential dangers in associating with strangers.
I often think of how naive my own childhood was in comparison to that of my two daughters and son.
Today, one of the many scenarios that I've warned 'could happen' played out--to MY daughter.
We're on a military base, an extremely SMALL military base, so one would assume we're a little more exempt from these types of situations.
I've learned the hard way, spending a lifetime under a black cloud, if I think it, that's because it can/will come to pass.
My daughter was in the Baskin Robins line for ice cream. I was inside our BX finishing up X-mas odds and ends shopping; waiting in line. The Baskin Robins is but 15 feet away--at most--but around a wall that divides the food court from the BX. Those of you not military, a BX is somewhat like a uber mini Walmart/Target/Sears.
My daughter came rushing towards me, a look of horror on her face.
"What's wrong with you?"
'Mom. A man...he came up to me...showed me i.d. that said he was security...he wanted me to leave with him, said I have to come with him right now, to his office--"
"What? What man? Did you do something?"
"No. I was getting ice cream. I said I have to get my mom before I go anywhere with you. He said no, I wasn't allowed to get you, that I had to come to his office right this minute. Then he tried grabbing my arm. I moved around the table and walked really fast to where you were."
I asked the cashier if she could call management, and that I would be leaving my cart with her. She was on that phone in a second while my daughter and I stormed out to the mini-food court--momma in a killing mood. We didn't see the man. Management came out. We described the situation to them. They contacted their security. None of the individuals were this man.
Thank God for security cameras.
They caught the whole thing on tape. And it's not grainy like you see in movies. They were able to zoom in on his face.
He's a national. They contacted the front gate. The base went into an immediate lock down. Police came and took a report, then came to the house. They had Turkish military police with them. Whew...those Turkish military...they.don't.play!
THEY GOT THE BASTARD!!!
They won't give me details of who he is or how he came to be on our base.
I really don't give two shits.
The only thing I care about is that a story/warning that I told my daughters, an example of how a potential preditor could trick them with intimidation (probably when she was about six), stuck in her mind all these years later.
Sometimes, it sucks being a parent. The short leash we have to keep our kids on. I remember, at seven, riding my bike for miles and miles. . .hiking through desert mountains on my own since I was eight. . .it's a different world now. I'm the parent that panics when she wants to go on her own into the food court while I'm in the main store shopping--at Ramstein AFB, this would NEVER happen, my answer would have been no, because that place was just toooo huge. But this base is so small, had she screamed, I'd have heard her even from the back of the store.
And the one time I said....okay...here's a few dollars...go enjoy a little independence....
We both agreed: screw that. She said she'll hold my hand until she's 18, before going through that again. Good thing. I'm an old mom. I don't think I could take that again.
Just wanted all of you to know so that those that never thought of a scenario like this, when teaching your kids what to beware of...the tricks these creeps use to convince your kids to leave with them...or get in their car...
Anyway. . .I asked if I could have 5 minutes with this guy. The cop chuckled slightly and said, 'No, ma'am, we need him alive for further questioning.'
Apparently, he's experienced with the wrath of a furious momma whose cub's been threatened.
As for my daughter? Both want to sleep with momma tonight. No problem. I think it's just as good for me as it will be for them. I'm still shaking.
And my husband. . .the man is STILL pacing. I think this will haunt him for a very long time. That man thing. The need to protect his family. Yeah, I think this will definitly mess with him for quite a long time.
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