My "bummer" post. Jessica Lunsford - Just can't get it out of my head

kit_kats_mom wrote: and I hope that maybe telling you guys will clear my brain so I can stop being so ready to cloister myself in my house with my babies and never leave. If I ramble, please forgive me. I'm really just a wreck about the whole thing, literally nauseaus when I think about it. Here's an example of how it's affected my daily life. I took the girls to a playground on Friday and a 40ish gentleman was there with two girls who were about 9 & 11. We chatted and the older girl was obviously very into babies and kept asking about Lauren etc. Finally she asked to hold her. I let her since she was sitting right next to me but a chill went down my spine as I thought "this guy could knock me out cold with nothing but his fist and when I woke up, both of my babies would be gone". I snatched her back at the first moment that it wouldn't seem plain rude and wierd and just said she was hungry. I used to love the community (we were in our hometown visiting my mom) and I always felt safe there...certianly never had thoughts like that about the locals.

I've attached a link to the local newspaper about Jessica. This happened less than one hour from our home. She was such a beautiful little 9 year old girl and this sex offender moved in next door and they had no idea...now she is gone. I just can't stop thinking about the gory details of how she must have felt in her final moments. Doesn't help that I'd read the Lovely Bones just a few months ago.
I want my children to never feel pain but stuff like this seems to be happening everywhere, all the time. I'm so happy that they at least found her and are able to get some closure. We checked for sexual offenders before we purchased our home but if one moved in next door tomorrow, we'd never know. No laws say that neighbors must be informed...at least not that I know of. So, I'm off to add "check FDLE's website for sexual offenders within our zip code" to my calendar of things to do every month. And that alarm system in our house...totally set, all the time. That's so sad that I have to do that KWIM? But that lady who overheard someone in her 4 year olds room via the baby monitor and met some guy at her front door abducting her kid lived less than 5 miles from me. Makes me want to go to the gym and get all buff...not so I can be a hottie, or even for health reasons but so that I can beat the ever lovin' crap out of any freako who tries to hurt the girls.

I hate living in such a scary world. It was much less scary when I didn't have children who I love so much and who I want to protect from everything bad.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MIS...AM&SECTION=HOME

loveydad replied: Well hon, your fears are justified. Even daddy's have that fear. However, not all 40ish men are evil you know? He was there with his daughters. I mean I'm 45, I'm strong, i'm buff enough, but that doesn't mean I run around hurting people. That being said, I would watch more that he was keeping a comfortable distances you know, and you know what, i don't blame you one BIT for being nervous!! It's not rude to tell people "you know i'd rather not let anyone hold her. I'm a nervous momma and I'd perfer not to." . Especially after that girl who tried to steal a young boy at a walmart here.

Just relax. It's healthy to keep a safe distances and be cautionary, but don't drive yourself nuts ykwim? It's a scary thing. I feel the same way sometimes and I'm a big tough guy. What would happen if someone grabbed Tracy and ran? I couldn't just leave me other children alone could I!? What if I couldn't catch up!? It's freaky.

I'm really sorry. I haven't helped I just kinda rambled on. But I know what you mean, it's tottaly scary.

iluvmysweetiepies replied: I know how you feel! It's sad our world has come to this. I'm always worrying about stuff like that. The Elizabeth Smart case was horrible! It's so scary that these things can happen so fast. It's such a scary world!

gr33n3y3z replied: I couldnt even finish reading it so sad
And you can look at state sex offender web site also. We have one in NJ and I'm always checking that.

You can always take a self defence course those are pretty handy
Check with your local police Dept. maybe they have more info on that

mummy2girls replied: im there with you! It is very scarey that stuff liek this can happen soclose to home! About 10 years ago a little girl around 6(i think) was kidnapped and then she was beaten and left to die at a trusck stop. That was scarey. At that time i wasnt a mom because i was still a teenager but it just freaked me out that it could happen. Its so sad about that girl! (((HUGS)))

A&A'smommy replied: I feel the same way everyday I NEVER EVER go out at night alone and when I do I'm SOOO quick about getting in the car and I lock the doors amediatly even before shutting the door (the ol shutting the door and locking it at the same time thing and then I double check it. When Alyssa was first born I saw on tv a woman who walked less than a foot away from her cart (where her baby was) and she was kidnapped just like that and no one caught the person, so I ALWAYS held on to her I was terrified someone would steal her from me. I try not to be paranoid but when you have children its SO hard and you have a right to be affraid there are so many freaks out there we have to be so careful with our babies!

MommyToAshley replied: Oh Cary, it IS scary what happened, but I can imagine how frightening it is when it happens so close to home. Stories like this really affect me, and I often think that something is wrong with me that I get so paranoid. Ashley is my whole life, and it is scary that there are people out there that want to hurt children.

amynicole21 replied: I've been really affected too, Cary. I just keep thinking about how her parents must feel, knowing what happened to her in those final moments. It makes me ill and so very sad.

coasterqueen replied: Okay I've been out of the "loop" here on all the news story so I had to call my mom this morning on this. How awful. I'd be freaked out too, Cary, being so close to home. Hug those girls and keep them close.

DansMom replied: You know the case of that little boy Adam years ago, the young boy who was lured from a department store and murdered/dismembered by a sex offender, still haunts me. If I lose sight of Daniel in a small store, even for a moment, I panic and it's somewhat embarrassing---people look at me like I'm insane as I run around screaming his name. When we are in a small, child-friendly store I still scope out every entrance and exit and examine the people in the store carefully. I'm totally paranoid. One of the reasons I still cosleep is so that I will know where Daniel is every minute! I know how you're feeling. The final moments for Jessica Lunsford are troubling me so deeply. Nobody should have to experience what she experienced.

kit_kats_mom replied: thanks guys. It helps to know that I'm not the only paranoid person out there.

MomToJade&Jordan replied: Your not alone hun. This latest act has affected me pretty badly as well. I was watching the news with Jade when they reported that they had found Jessica. There were tears and fear. I have to ask what kind of world this is that someone is sick enough to prey on young children. It is my biggest fear and the thought of someone taking my baby and hurting her haunts me. I kept looking at this guys mugshot and saying he better hope that he never has the misfortune of coming face to face with me.