I don’t know about you, but the thought of keeping our children safe consumes me. While it may be true that some areas are safer than others, the world has certainly become an unsafe place for not only children, but adults as well. What was thought to be safe at one time, is no longer safe today. Keeping your doors locked at all times of the day is now a necessity, and not a suggestion. Sharing your child’s location or having them wear a GPS tracker of some kind is no longer for the overprotective parent, it is essential in knowing where your child is to be sure that they are safe. Even sending your children off to school can fill you with worry.
Potential Dangers
For me, a parent with grown children, still worry anytime they leave the house. There are many potential dangers that cross their path on a daily basis. For them, commuting to college, means driving on the highway with others that may be distracted by a text or phone call, or may even be drinking and driving. Let alone the worries if they live on a college campus. While my children have transferred home, and no longer live at school, I still worry about them walking alone into a parking lot when their day is done, and the crime that surrounds most college campuses. For any parent, that has a child living in a dorm, pledging a sorority or fraternity, walking to and from classes, and attending parties, I understand the worry, I’ve been there. The worry is even greater for a parent in this situation, with shootings being reported around many campuses, date rape, pledge week and the requirements, drinking and drugs at parties, and bullying. The dangers that are present in this type of living situation are endless.
Safe Travels
How about when your child travels? Are you dealing with the stress of your children going on senior-week, spring break, studying abroad, or just traveling with friends? If so, with reports of children missing, human trafficking, diseases, and so much more, it can be quite overwhelming for a parent. How can you keep them safe when you are in a different state or country? You can’t. You have to rely on them being safe and smart. That is hard to do even if you have taught your child well. You will always think that you can protect them better than they can protect themselves. I have dealt with travel and so, far survived it, but there are many of you who have yet to experience it, or who have not had a good experience, or even have dealt with the unthinkable. The worry can be unbearable.
Protecting Your Children Today
My daughters are now 25 and 21 years old. My 25-year old has recently bought a home and moved out. While I am very proud of her, I miss her and worry for her. I worry about her home being safe and secure. Is her gas off, does she have batteries in her smoke alarm, did she lock her windows and doors before bed, or when she left the house? I know it sounds obsessive, but that is who I am as a parent. My daughter tends to worry all by herself, so she is on top of things, but as a parent, I still remind her to lock up, and turn on her alarm.
As for my twins, they are 21 years old, still in college and living at home. With them I have a little more control over checking on them, but not nearly as much as I would like. I worry about them going out drinking, getting in Ubers, Lyfts, and city cabs, especially if they are alone, walking home alone, and so much more. I can’t help it. As a parent, worry and concern comes with the job. I am sure there are many of you that obsess over the same things and maybe more.
Protective Safety Measures
The protective measures I take or those that I try to take when my girls cooperate, are these: sharing their locations on their cell phones, so that I know where they are at all times, going with them when they park their car (we live in the city and do not have a driveway), making sure their seatbelts are on when they get in a car, teaching them how to a cautious driver (no phones), reminding them to be aware of their surroundings, picking them up or making sure they are not traveling alone when they go out (they are safer in numbers), keeping the doors locked at all times, and being careful not to let anyone know their location on social media (you never know who is watching).
Taking Preventative Measures
The preventative measures that I am currently looking into include, arming them with pepper spray, a rape whistle, and taking self-defense classes. You may think that these measures are extreme, but I don’t think so, not in the society we live in today. With more and more neighborhoods experiencing break-ins, robberies, rapes, shootings, car jackings, drugs and more, plastered all over the news, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Self-Defense for Our Children
It’s true that arming your children, or yourself with self-defense classes or products, purchasing tracking devices and installing alarm systems in your home can be quite costly, it is well worth it. I am sure you agree when I say, you will keep your children safe at any cost. Sometimes, that is easier said than done, especially if you are on a budget or struggling from one paycheck to another. So, what do you do when you are scared for your child, but do not have the means to protect them like you want to?
Saving up, borrowing from family, or even requesting the extra cash from a lender may be the way to go if you are concerned for your child’s well-being. I know asking family or friends for money is never easy, that’s why a quick cash payday loan or even a same day title loan may be just what you need. You can receive the cash you need without any of the embarrassment.