It Only Takes a Minute!
Provided by: Renee' Byrd - SmartAlec Enterprises
Recently my husband and I took our 2-1/2 year old son to the local playground to play. There were a couple of other boys there that were older between the ages of 5 and 7.
My son loves to play with other boys especially older ones, so when he went over and was talking to them, I kept a close eye and my heart swelled with pride - they were playing together! When the two boys had to leave to go home, my son followed and I was close behind them telling him that he had to stay with me. The 5 year old offered to take my little boy home with him. I laughed and thanked him and thought "how sweet" as I retrieved my son.
After the boys left and my son had moved on to the slide, my husband said, "See how easy it would be?" I didn't understand, "easy what?" My husband said, "Do you see how easy it would be to lure our son away?" He was talking about the 2 boys and of course there was no evil intent on the 5 and 7 year old to lure our son away but in an instant I realized that my husband was right. It would only take 60 seconds to lure my loving, trusting child away from me!
It was also in that moment that I realized how many dangers in our world there truly are and how many times it would have only taken a minute for my son to disappear. Minutes in the store when my back was turned grabbing for the milk, butter, eggs, or whatever, even that minute when I had turned around to see a sweet little old lady or man talking to my son.
Like most, I am a watchful parent, I have even been told I am actually over-protective, but I am also among the many parents today that have a full load of responsibilities in addition to caring for my child. In between juggling work, monitoring daycare/ school, handling doctor and dentist appointments, sporting events, play dates, home businesses, shopping, meetings and the holidays (and for most parents it doesn't end there). We all have to become wizards at scheduling and our main focus during this ordered chaos is to keep an attentive eye on our children.
Even at the safest moments things can happen, sometimes they are funny and sometimes they are downright scary - for example the time my son ran behind the counter at a shoe store and turned off the lady's cash register (this happened last week), or the many times he has grabbed something that he wasn't supposed to. All parents know how long it takes for chaos to break loose, seconds!
With our lives being so busy, it is easy to forget that it only takes a minute to give a hug or kiss, to say "I love you", to play with toy cars, to color, to say a word of encouragement, AND it only takes a minute for all of that to disappear.
That is why I try to stick to some very simple common sense rules to help make sure my child is safe.
- Never leave your child alone in a car. Not even for a second!
- Young children should always be supervised in any public place.
- Know where your children are at all times. ASK QUESTIONS!
- Always accompany your child to a public restroom.
- Keep recent photos of your child "just in case".
- Do not put your child's name on the outside of their clothing.
- Teach your child to tell you immediately if something bad happens or if they feel uncomfortable or scared with another adult, teenager or child.
- Be sensitive to your child's behavior. Follow your intuition.
- Teach your child that it is okay to say "No" to an adult.
- Make sure your child knows their name, address and phone number, and if possible, an emergency number.
- Be aware if a teenager or adult is paying an unusual amount of attention to your child.
- Keep a first aid book by the phone in your home along with emergency phone numbers to the local police and fire department - teach your child "911".
It may take a little extra time and effort to follow these simple rules, however it is very easy for the minutes to slip by us and sometimes we all need a little reminder that it will only take a minute.
About the Author:
Renee' Byrd
SmartAlec Enterprises
(503) 890-1289
PO Box 83036
Portland, Oregon, 97283
SmartAlec Enterprises
SmartAlec Enterprises offers unique gifts that promote safety and education for children. We offer Kids's Photo ID, Unique photo birth announcements and candy bar announcements, ID Inside Child Safety Identification Wristbands and personalized sketch books.
Related Discussions:
| Topic | Author | Replies |
|---|---|---|
SweetMamma |
0 |
|
Soontobemom |
4 |
Related Articles:
Keeping your baby safe at all times is one of your greatest concerns and responsibilities. There is so much to consider and it is very easy to overlook something that might be fairly obvious to some but escape others.
Read this baby magazine article before selecting furniture for your baby. Important baby furniture safety tips included that all parents should read before shopping for furniture for their baby's nursery.
Children are always up to mischief. And that's why it is important that your home is baby and child proof. Below is a list of rooms and how to make them safe for your child and/or baby.
Learning Child CPR and baby CPR is a must if you are expecting a baby or already have children. This article presents information on how to do just that.
View All >>>
