Over the weekend, I agreed to let my eight year old go to a carnival with her best friend's family. At night. As the event approached, it suddenly dawned on me that I have never done this before - released my kid into the care of another, at a crowded event. At night. And no, school field trips don't count. I'm referring to the bustling amusement parks, concerts, festivals...and carnivals. At night.
So, to ensure that she would be seen and kept track of in a crowd (and basically to make myself feel better), I tried to prepare her well: Bright orange shirt (if she wore blue or white or pink, she'd just blend into the crowd). Orange jacket (in case the shirt was covered up). Sparkly silver hat (in case all they could see was the top of her head). Mini flashlight attached to her belt loop (in case...I don't know...she needed to lead a darkened path?). Safety tattoo placed strategically on our arm, with our phone number (in case she got lost and was too traumatized to remember our phone number. Nevermind that she's known our phone number since preschool). And Daddy rehearsed the safety rules with her...after I did.
The only thing missing was supplying her with a can of mace or a gun. Thought that might be overkill.
Can you imagine how it will be when she's allowed to date at 16 18 21?
I'd have a tough time with this one too! My little one is rarely out of my sight, except at school or with grandma!
Sounds like you had her all set though. I hope she had fun!
Posted by: Staci A | Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 03:38 AM
LOVE your post. I would have done the same thing. My daughter is 4 1/2 and already asking to be allowed to sleepover her friend's house...no way!
When we're out and about as a family, I always have my camera with me and will snap a picture of the kids that day so that, should something happen, I can show any necessary people who they would be looking for.
Sounds like we're all on the same page :)
Posted by: Monica | Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 10:24 AM
I love that you are honest about the lengths that you go to...just in case there is some unforseeable incident. What made me chuckle to myself is that if something minor had happened, and you were upset even though she wasn't - I cannot imagine what you would do to the little one when she gets to be this age! And I can already her rollin' her eyes when your hubby went over the rules...again!
I look at it this way - the person who is going to look out for your child the most is you! And I am always thankful that I do take the time and forethought to go that extra mile or two (or hundred thousand million as my kids would say) to make sure that they are safe and as protected as I can make them. We always hear about the tragedies and think about how it could have been prevented. Our children are worth that...and so much more!
Thanks for the smile!
Posted by: Erin | Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Thanks for sharing ~ I'm not quite at that age yet with my little one but I can just imagine the post I'd be writing about it. Don't you think they are starting younger and younger to do things that I think we were much older!
Posted by: susan | Monday, November 02, 2009 at 11:11 PM