Really, the bike riding was enough of an adventure, thanks
So when Tacy and our next door neighbor, who walk home from school together, arrived home yesterday afternoon, Tacy was red-faced and in tears, choking out unintelligible words even before I could get the storm door open.
Given that she can turn a skinned knee into an ER-worthy crisis, I remained calm. And between the two girls, I got the story: A couple of boys in a car with a BB gun, shooting at the fence along the street, and then slowing down to keep pace with the girls, who took off running for home.
No wonder she was a little freaked out. I was too. Less so by the BB gun than by how the little creeps slowed down to focus their attention on a couple of little girls.
All four of us hopped in the car to cruise the ‘hood. Our neighbor pointed out where they were when the boys started shooting. We didn’t see any cars that matched the description the girls gave.
I called the sheriff’s department to log the incident – maybe someone else had seen something, someone old enough to look at the license plate and remember the number. The dispatcher asked if I wanted a deputy to come out, and I told her not to bother, but I’d be glad to see increased patrols in the neighborhood after school.
Here’s the rub: Do we let her walk home from school as usual today?
I’m not asking for input, as we’ve already made our decision. But I’d like to know what you’d do and why.
October 4th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Good grief. What the hell is wrong with people these days? Gah! It makes me so angry. Poor Tacy! Its a good thing no one got hurt!
Hmm. That’s a difficult questions. I think I’d likely let her walk home from school today, so that she doesn’t work this up into a huge fear, but I’d likely try to follow discreetly and unobserved behind (leaving the husband at home). Best of both worlds, you can see if there is a problem, but you let her try again.
I hope today goes better for all of you!
October 4th, 2007 at 6:23 am
I want to find those boys and punch them in the face. And burn their car.
I don’t handle bullying of little girls well.
I think I’d probably check with her and see what she wanted from me. Personally I think I’d like to walk with her the next day just in case the boys came around again so I could get their license plate and scare the shit out of them.
But whatever choice you make will probably be the right one for your girl.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:27 am
What awful kids. I probably would ask Tacy what she wanted. But I’m leaning closer to not letting her walk home for at least a week. Maybe the novelty of scaring small children will wear off for the BB-gun-carrying thugs.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:31 am
How horrible. I would totally come out to Colorado and kick those kids’ asses if I thought I could find them.
I would keep business as usual for today, myself — let her walk home like she normally does. I expect this kind of thing would not happen twice in a row, and I subscribe to the “fall off a horse, get right back on again” theory of parenting.
But I wouldn’t blame you for driving her, or walking with her, or hiring an off-duty police officer escort.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:40 am
I don’t know what I would do. It sounds like Tacy knew what to do in that situation. I think that makes a big difference.
I remember being in (1st grade-ish?) when a car pulled over and asked my friend and I if we wanted to take a ride. The car was full of grown men. (1970’s). I ran like hell into my friends house while she fumbled like crazy with her bike kickstand. (Let NO MAN touch that shiny new bike, yo.)
I think it’s important for her to feel like she knows what to fear when and how to protect herself.
October 4th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Holy shit. I hope someone catches those assholes.
I would probaly let Tacy decide.
October 4th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Like Nancy, I’m in the “get back on the horse” camp. I think I would have her walk again, given that you’ve already determined that walking is safe (short distance, with a friend, etc.) and that she knew to tell you as soon as she got home. I’d probably review safety rules one more time, too; and maybe just happen to be strolling toward school with CJ around the time the girls are walking home!
October 4th, 2007 at 8:10 am
I got hit with an egg at Halloween.
Dumb bastards.
I probably wouldn’t let her — or ask her how she felt.
October 4th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Wow. I have absolutely no idea what I would do in this situation. My gut says let her walk home, don’t let her feel afraid but my tiger-mama personna might have to be in a car parked on the street so I could secretly be watching. Let us know what happens..
October 4th, 2007 at 9:17 am
That’s a tricky one. I’d probably do like Kristen and ask Tacy how she felt about walking home again. But, I’d also make the school principal and school support officer (we have them here) aware of the matter and ask if they might be able to provide an escort if she decided to walk.
I sure hope someone catches those idiots.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:06 am
My knee-jerk reaction would be to duct tape her to me and become her personal escort, wherever and whenever.
But in reality I think I would have her walk home as usual. I’d go over safety rules and I think I’d be inclined to call the school and give them a heads-up, too.
I think I’d also be inclined to discreetly follow her home.
I’m really sorry. Something sort of similar happened to me when I was a kid and I will never forget it.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:48 am
I too as does my husband think the shadow effect. Let us know how it goes with whatever it is you decide. So scary for a little one.
October 4th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I would have drug the Sheriff out there and filed a report. And then followed the girls discreetly (after discreetly buying a BB gun of my own) and if the boys showed up again start pinging those bad boys off their windows!
October 4th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Welcome to the NRA-Loving, gun-toting state of Colorado, huh? Doesn’t it make you glad you moved to a place where they have “training bra” guns for future Antler-Rack, Truck-Drivin Republican Assholes?
October 4th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Wow, tough question. I thing I would take her lead. Ask her if she’s comfortable walking home. Make sure she walks home with a buddy.
I would alert the school and the police though, for sure.
Things like this make me sad about the state of the world.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
How scary! I agree with some of the commenters above, that I’d probably be opposed to her walking home alone, but I’d also want to know what Tacy wanted to do.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
How scary. Those idiots-don’t they have little sisters, or cousins, or something? Although my first reaction would be to want to stop letting my child walk to school, I can see how that could turn into generalized fear of other situations. If she is not scared to walk, I would let her. And praise her over and over for remembering to “Run home and tell a grown-up”.
October 4th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Jerks. Whatever your decision, Tacy should be in on it. It’s fine to be scared of the situation but you don’t want unnecessary fear if you can avoid it.
I hope they catch the creeps.
October 4th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
That is awful! I think I agree with everyone else who is saying to let her walk, but follow without her knowing. You don’t want to make the fear intensify, but you also need to let her know that you will be there to protect her if she needs it. This is hard! I am so sorry you have to go through this!
October 4th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
While I’d want to escort her home, I’d let her decide.
What creeps.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
oh my god – what complete and utter jackasses. I hope someone saw something, or their stupid enough to be seen aiming at fences again.
as for walking home? for me, it would totally depend on Tacy – how freaked out she is the next day and whether or not she wanted an escort (and be very happy if she did).
October 4th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
No…I probably wouldn’t. Not for awhile. God…what’s the world coming to?
October 4th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Oh my, how terrifying for them!
Gosh, I don’t know what I would do. I guess I wouldn’t let her walk without me just for my own peace of mind. I get anxious about that stuff anyway. I don’t live in a great neighborhood, so I worry about those things as it is.
October 4th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
My first response was “NO!”
Then, I thought about it and thought, “Yea, yea I would.” But, I’d be all stealth about it and follow them from a distance in my own car to make sure they didn’t meet up with the boys again.
Plus, it’d give me the opportunity to get the license plate.
We need to feel safe in our neighborhoods for crying out loud.
This irks me beyond irkdom. BB guns, although more irritating than deadly, are still a force to be reckoned with and should be treated with the same measure of respect as larger guns.
We use them as the training ground to teach our children how to handle weapons safely.
I’m so sorry.
Bullies.
GAH!
October 5th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Ugh, I missed this yesterday. Poor Tacy. Hugs to you all.
October 5th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Fucking stupid kids. What’s a funny joke to them is terrifying to two little girls. As hard as it would be I think I would let her walk home otherwise you feed the fears. Most likely those boys found bigger and better trouble to get into and won’t be back again.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
I think I would walk her home for a couple of days just to make sure that those boys won’t do anything like that again.
October 8th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
That’s awful. As much as I don’t want fear to overcome her, I think walking her home for some time is necessary for her safety.
October 14th, 2007 at 5:14 am
I’m late, but I thought I’d comment and say a ‘way to go’ for your girl for doing exactly what she should have.
Awesome.
July 13th, 2009 at 4:03 am
[...] had a scare or two – the BB gun-wielding boys of course, plus instances where Tacy went looking for me instead of staying put in our appointed [...]