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Being a mum to two girls 5 years apart I am always kept on my toes. And my eldest who was a hard baby but brilliant there after once she reached 1yr old, is such an easy child compared to my youngest who was a great baby but then became my challenge child after that. But I admit I love the challenge and love how different they both are in personality and demeanour.

My youngest however makes it a struggle with safety. No matter how many times I tell her about road safety she never listens and runs out on a road every single time. Luckily I am always aware and vigilant of her actions. But the one safety she has always been great at is Stranger Danger with adults and knowing not to trust someone she doesn’t know or not to ever go with anyone who she doesn’t know.mand for a 3yr old I am quiet proud of this fact considering she always runs far ahead of me in a supermarket or shopping centre.

But on this one day the other week I got the biggest scare of my life. We were at dancing lessons for her older sister ( and little miss 3 also dances there but on a different day) which the lessons are also at my eldest daughters school hall. So it is always a safe environment and no one is ever around except for the parents and siblings of the dancers. But the other week the school had there parent teacher interviews on the same day as dancing and the interviews were scheduled up till 8pm at night so it was rather busy and all entries into and out of the school were open. Usually little miss 3 plays just outside the hall next to where I sit ( just inside of a roller door) and I constantly watch her and my eldest dancing ( sometimes I miss the dancing part ) and I told her on this day not to go out of my sight since there are so many people around and all gates are open so the danger of strangers kidnapping or snatching her was more heightened on this day. 5 mins before the lessons finished she needed to go to the toilet so I took her to the toilet in the hall and when we got back to our seat I said just sit with mummy as the lesson is nearly finished. And she convinced me she would just quickly run up to the stairs and back and then sit down. The stairs were also in my eye sight so was no worry to me. Then I got distracted for a quick 30 seconds as my eldest daughter came to me as her lesson had finished and she had asked me what I thought of her new routine. After responding and her putting her shoes on ready to leave I looked outside and little miss 3 was no where to be seen. I quickly went out to where the stairs were to see if she was standing on top of them but she wasn’t htere. Then the panic set in and I started calling her name. But there was no response at all. I checked in the toilets and also got my eldest daughter to do a check outside near the hall again but of course she was no where to be seen still. My heart stopped and I started screaming and crying and all the dance teachers plus most of the mothers heard my panic screams and came to me and after explains I couldn’t find her they all went in search of her. Thankfully the teachers all new what she looked like and luckily I could think quickly and remembered exactly what she was wearing. Everyone was in a panice as they new all the gates and entrances were open to the school so she could have wondered out or been snatched. After what felt like an eternity but was more like 5 mins one of the teachers came running back with my little miss in her arms and I think I cried more knowing she was back in my sight and then in my arms than not knowing where she was. Apparently another child ( 8yrs of age) whose sister is in the older dance class ready to start her lesson had gone up to my little miss and said I want you to come to the playground and play and of course my daughter didn’t hesitate and off they went. One I was angry at this child for doing this but secondly I thought wow I have never warned my child about stranger danger in regards to a child before! Never to be aware of another child taking you or leading you away from us. This child could have easily been apart of a snatching a prop to get the child away from safety.

I cried for a good hour after getting home and hugged little miss 3 till I could hug her no more. And checked she was in her bed still all night long. She was worried because I was crying so much and had no idea what she had done and kept saying to me that all the girl wanted was for her to go play. And I have explained to her and drilled it into her to never leave and go with someone unless you ask mummy first. Also her kindy teachers had a talk to class about stranger danger from children as well.

I felt like the worst mother and of course fear kicked in as you know it can only take a matter of minutes for a child to be snatched. This has made me even more vigilant of every move now and I hope this story can make other parents aware and inform there children about the danger of ANY stranger to a child!

Posted by meljware, 14th April 2015

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