copslass
03-05-2004, 11:10 PM
My newly turned 13yo went to the bowling alley wth friends tonight.
Just came downstairs and mentioned that she and a girlfriend had walked to mcdonald's (a half mile away from bowling alley.) When I told her never to do that again, she replied, "Mom, it's 'insert small town here.'"
So I finally told her what her 19yo sis has known for years, about the brutal attack I suffered at age 15 walking in a nice neighborhood just after dark. I detailed the whole story, but my head was hurting too badly to talk about the aftermath. My heart is still pounding. I did tell her that it took over ten years for me to begin living normally after that. And that she is much too precious to ever put herself in a place of danger.
I still worry SO much about my dd at college, especially returning to campus and walking across the parking lot when getting off work late at night. Just spoke to her recently about it, and she assured me that she's always careful, and super aware of her surroundings, because of my warnings. From what she said about watching, I mean the details she gave, I have confidence that she is truly extra careful.
I guess, more than anything, I just want to say: Please, please, please talk to your kids candidly about these things. They DO happen, to REAL people.
I don't want my kids to live in constant fear, but it is imperative that they be AWARE.
Ok, I'm done, I'm just overwhelmed right now, after talking about it and almost reliving it as I talked.
God bless all of our precious children, especially as they venture forth into further independence.
Just came downstairs and mentioned that she and a girlfriend had walked to mcdonald's (a half mile away from bowling alley.) When I told her never to do that again, she replied, "Mom, it's 'insert small town here.'"
So I finally told her what her 19yo sis has known for years, about the brutal attack I suffered at age 15 walking in a nice neighborhood just after dark. I detailed the whole story, but my head was hurting too badly to talk about the aftermath. My heart is still pounding. I did tell her that it took over ten years for me to begin living normally after that. And that she is much too precious to ever put herself in a place of danger.
I still worry SO much about my dd at college, especially returning to campus and walking across the parking lot when getting off work late at night. Just spoke to her recently about it, and she assured me that she's always careful, and super aware of her surroundings, because of my warnings. From what she said about watching, I mean the details she gave, I have confidence that she is truly extra careful.
I guess, more than anything, I just want to say: Please, please, please talk to your kids candidly about these things. They DO happen, to REAL people.
I don't want my kids to live in constant fear, but it is imperative that they be AWARE.
Ok, I'm done, I'm just overwhelmed right now, after talking about it and almost reliving it as I talked.
God bless all of our precious children, especially as they venture forth into further independence.