Go read this…

Kathy Jackson, over at Cornered Cat has an excellent post up about protecting your kids from strangers, HERE.

My opinion, FWIW, is that the PC culture and fear of ‘offending’ someone has brought us to the point that we are afraid of any kind of public ‘confrontation’. The diaper snipers, panhandlers, assholes, and others feel free to prey on John Q. Public because they pretty much know they can get away with it. Look at all the issues with fast food and the fights, 911 calls, shootings, etc. over incorrect orders, for example…

Now, if you say something, the SJWs are going to go loud on you, trying to shame you into compliance, or possibly physically attack you if you don’t ‘let’ them do what they want.

To my mind, this is just one more reason to carry, and especially maintain situational awareness any time I’m out with my grandkids. I’m a grumpy old fart, so I’m not going to be real complimentary if you try to screw with my grands or me. This applies doubly at night or in parking lots. I like to park where I’m not next to anyone, but it’s summer in Texas, so I WILL fight you for the one shady spot in the parking lot, even if it is a quarter mile to the store…

Seriously, go read, and check the links she has at the bottom. Kathy is good folks, and a damn good instructor, in addition to being a wife and mother.

Comments

Go read this… — 12 Comments

  1. I know that when I have my niece/nephews with me, I’m even more aware of what’s going on around me than when I’m on my own. I’ve been trusted with their care at those times, and I will not let anything happen to them on my watch.

  2. Been there. Gave the Death Stare. Chased the creepy old man away from my daughter.
    In our case, it was an office supply store, and this dude in his 50s-60s made a beeline for our stroller when he thought we weren’t looking, then immediately diverted to “look” at some pens when we turned around. He then proceeded to follow us around the store for the next 5 minutes or so while we walked a “test pattern” to see if he actually WAS following us. Sure enough, turn around and he’d be one aisle over, hastily pretending to examine some random item.
    The Death Stare camw out then, and we both kept it on im until he fled the store without buying anything.

  3. Now days it seems that protecting yourself or your family makes you the bad guy. Common sense and doing the right thing has no bearing on the case. Protect the accused at all cost and forget about the victim. But I had rather be held up to charges than lying in a hospital bed or being worm food.

  4. I know that as I get older I have a lot less patience with being socially acceptable. I know that as a nurse, I get to tell other older adults what to do and not to do all the time, so while I do try to be respectful, I know that if what I said doesn’t happen quickly, I get blunt.

    I also know that when it comes to kids, my own and others, I have very little difficulty in setting and maintaining boundaries, especially if I think something hinky is going on. I have had the talk a couple of times with extended family members that it is a good thing to teach your kids to avoid strangers, so I don’t feel bad if the kids don’t remember me from a year ago…which to a little kid is forever ago. And I have a very well practiced Mom-death glare when I think someone is over the line.

    And, as my step-daughter found out, if someone is acting out, or in an inappropriate manner, I can just turn around and leave the store. I can always go back another time. Heck, I get nervous when I am in a store and someone is following ME around in the store. I’ll mix up my pattern to see if they are following me or it’s just coincidence.

    I guess, bottom line, I don’t worry too much about being rude to someone I have never seen before, and will, most likely never see again. Especially if it involves kids.

  5. It’s fear. Fear of being seen as mentally unstable, racially prejudiced, or just a generally nasty person. Fear that if you make a scene, you’ll be embarrassed. I’ve got news: embarrassment isn’t fatal; it only feels that way. Tell the stalker to back off, say it in a loud, firm, voice.

    Now, for my part, there was one instance years ago when I was at the shopping mall, trying to find a suitable birthday present for a family member. I had a bad cold, and I should have been home in bed tanked up on various OTC drugs and nostrums. So as I was slowly, painfully, walking back to my car, a woman twenty feet in front of me turned around and loudly accused me of following her. I was more than a little surprised, as I hadn’t noticed her. I think I said something like, “Lady, please. I got a cold that I’m pretty sure is going to be fatal, and I can’t remember where I parked. I’m trying to find my car.”

    She said, “Oh! Sorry.” a bunch of times, and I waited until she went away. I finally did find my car, by the way, but the common cold turned into the flu and I failed to survive.

  6. I’ve only had to do it once, but using my “teacher voice” and saying “Please move away from my students,” while interposing myself between the possible problem and the kids worked very well. He backed away and several other adults swarmed the scene. It turned out he was just in the wrong part of the building and was there for a different event, but the way he approached two physically small students set off all my alarms. Rude? Maybe, but my duty is to protect the students, period end. I was there as chaperone and to keep an eye on the kids. So I did.

  7. Hey Old NFO;

    It is sad in this day and age that you have to watch for this stuff, I remember when I was little there weren’t such issues or possibly ignorance is bliss. Anyway Now I have a situation awareness from always watching people behind me to looking to escape routes and with the exception of work, I am always carrying.

  8. If it means protecting mine from harm, I’m perfectly willing to be the “bad guy”! Sunday, I’d taken two grand daughters (one mine, one loaner) out to dinner after their last performance of “Guys and Dolls” and we were getting out of the car when I heard a trio of guys running up behind us. Had the door pocket 1911 out before I even thought about it. Don’t think they ever saw it (turned out they were racing to their car two aisles over) but the girls noticed it. Mine told her friend “Papa’s just not a trusting soul, don’t worry about it. But we’re pretty well protected!”

    But it gave me a chance to reinforce the need to always keep your head on a swivel, and maintain situational awareness.

  9. Something to consider, if the unwanted attention persists despite your initial cautions: Your encounter is almost certainly not the first that person has engaged in, and the persistence is because persistence has worked for him/her in the past.

    You do not know what their objective is, but there’s nothing wrong with engaging the services of an armed government agent to find out if the persistence continues despite your firmly voiced objections. Call 911. Insist – not request, but insist – that a report be filed. Cops are natural paperwork-avoiders, but there is value in an official record being made of the incident; that persistence exists for a reason, and documentation of the event may prove valuable at some future point.

    Plus, when the manager of Frodo’s Bargain Barn sees police involved, it may spark greater interest in managing the safety and security of valid shoppers; if enough paying customers decide Frodo’s is Not A Place To Shop, they’re out of business.