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| Mon, 12-11-2006 - 3:11pm |
I posted earlier about my scare with my dd walking the dog. My mom called me this morning and was basically giving me you know what about allowing her to walk the dog. My dd is 11. The dog is a 90lb chocolate lab who is very friendly and would be a deterent factor only, not too good for actual defense, I must admit. I felt that it was a safe way for her to feel more independant and the dog needs exercise too. My mom was commenting on the dog being friendly, not protective and on the fact that someone could just mace the dog in the face and then grab her. I'm torn now about what I should do. She doesn't walk the dog everyday, only occasionally when she has time but she wants to walk him more this spring/summer when there is more daylight. I have her stick to busy streets when there would be potential witnesses as an added deterrent. The one street that she walks on has constant traffic, so you couldn't grab a child there without anyone noticing it immediately. I felt that that factor, combined with the dog's presence would make any sexual predator keep searching for an easier victim. I really can't stand the thought that I am constantly second guessing myself but I don't want to put her in a dangerous situation.


It's a strange world we live in, isn't it?
Ask your mom when the last time someone maced a dog and stole a child? Those kind of things MIGHT happen but there's a much higher odds that one of her teachers will molest her. That doesn't mean you don't send her to school. You have to let them go. If she's never walked around the block by herself when she's 11, what's going to happen when she's 15 and left alone at the mall? She'll be totally incapable of handling the independence which is expected of kids in their teens. You are starting small, she's got the cell (granted next time you just make sure that the volume is turned up properly and its not tucked away in a pocket under mitts where she can't hear it), she's got the dog with her and you know your neighborhood which I am assuming is generally safe.
Much as its hard, you can't keep her in a bubble. Someday she's going to need to walk alone and if you've done a good job of preparing her she'll be fine. It was scary but it wasn't a real threat, try and remember that, she wasn't in any danger, it was just a freaky electronic thing. Deep breath and let her take those first steps of independence.
Does your family have a 'safeword'? If anyone walked up to your daughter and says you send them to get her, this person should know the family safeword and she should know NOT to go with anyone who doesn't know it. Attatching a small but loud whistle that she can blow if someone approaches her is another thought.
Otherwise it sounds like she's a pretty great kid to take the dog for a walk! If it makes you feel better, maybe a younger sibling can tag along...safety in numbers!
Denise
I read your first post and this one.
Madalot
When I insist that I am 'right," I slam the door of my mind. I remain locked in past
Honestly----in the world we live in, if we want to protect our children, we need to look them in a padded cell and never let them out!
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