Stranger-danger was put into play one afternoon when Roberto, who was 5 years old at the time, and I approached our new home. I was driving very slowly down the street and noticed a man slow his pace as I pulled the car into our driveway. Roberto, I said, still inside the car, when we get out of the car I need you to be as quick as you can, as we walk to the front door. You cannot take your time and move slowly today. There is a man standing nearby, a stranger, and I just want to get inside quickly. Got it? He nodded, confirming he understood what I was saying. Then I pushed the car door out, wide, while saying, Come on, let’s go. I completely ignored the guy. Until, out of my peripheral, I noticed he began walking towards us, coming down the drive. Instinct kicked in. I shoved Roberto behind me, protecting him from possible, I don’t know, harm? I just looked at the man, as I reached my arm around, pressing my palm against Roberto’s back. Hello, he said. I’m just on my way home. I live right down there, he continued, pointing to the house at the end of the cul-de-sac. I just wanted to introduce myself. And welcome you and your family to the neighborhood. Oh hi, I said feebly. Nice to meet you.
Like any good parent would, I taught my children about stranger-danger. Not always an easy task considering I also wanted to teach them to be kind to their fellow man. This can be somewhat confusing to their tender minds. Be kind but don’t talk to someone you don’t know, I might say. I never felt one hundred percent sure about how to approach the topic with my kids, but overall I think they got the gist of what I meant.
Roberto looked back at the guy as we walked in the front door. Wasn’t he a stranger? Why did you talk to him? He asked.
BonaFideAffairs 
Your story had me on the edge of my seat. 🙂 It’s too true though, how do we teach our kids to differentiate between not talking to strangers and being kind to others.
Have fun with a-z.
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fortunately, my kids have made it through, so far, just fine….
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Being careful about strangers is a basic, but how do you warn them about friends and relatives? My mother taught us about no touching…
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oh, pagadan, that is so true…. that is harder to teach, and even more confusing…
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Better safe than sorry!! Around your kids you have to so very very careful.
Connie
A to Z-ing to the end
Peanut Butter and Whine
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definitely… better safe than sorry, peanut… 🙂
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In a lot of instances it is someone who knows you well who turns out to be the “bad” guy. But teaching stranger danger is a good thing to do.
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oh, boy, layer upon layer of the dynamics of dealing with strangers…. if only the world was a peaceful place….
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Sometimes even the guy living at the end of the street might be the ‘bad’ guy. I think when it comes to kids you can never be too safe
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so true, paula…..
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You never know, that is why it is better to be careful instead of sorry.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
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hi, kathy, i hate the thought of what i’d feel if one of kids had something happen to them, and i had never taught them anything….
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You never can be too careful. I read a blog the other day about how there is this “unsupervised” park play program in NY city, claiming it was what’s missing with today’s children. Yesterday I had Kate at the park with a bunch of her friends and they got out of sight. So I had to stand up and go find her. A small price to pay for the safety of my child.
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jeanine, i think the park is a tricky place… people can get too comfortable assuming everyone is safe when someone may be lurking in the shadows……
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