Speaking of child predators - Do you ever

mckayleesmom wrote: catch men (or woman in some cases) staring at your children in public and it give you the creeps?

Im not talking all men either....sometimes its just a certain one that hits me the wrong way.

The other day when we were grocery shopping there was this guy that wouldn't stop staring at Mckaylee. We were in the meat area and there was this guy standing in one of the center freezer things...He had his arm propped up on a display leaning on it...Mckaylee was running up and down the meat section looking at the lobsters and picking stuff out. He just kept watching her with his eyes and looking her up and down...I finally walked by stood and stared back at him.....He didn't like that so much and left...I grabbed Mckaylee and put her in the cart. This guy seriously stood there and watched her for about 5 minutes. He just didn't know that she had mother that was watching him back.

It makes me sick to think how many parents let their kids run around Walmart unsupervised. If this guy was in fact a predator...he could have taken Mckaylee by the hand and led her right out of the store if I wasn't paying attention.

C&K*s Mommie replied: I really have never noticed. But some people give me the creeps.

I am glad that you are not one of those parents that allow their children to run around unsupervised. Good that you put that creep in his place, by making it known that you were watching him back.

holley79 replied: I can be somewhere and if I get a "bad" feeling I will leave that area.

Being a victim as a child has made me very leary of people, men or women alike. We have just as many women who are charged with sexual abuse as we do men.

gr33n3y3z replied: I never caught anyone looking like that
But you did good
Next time you can also go to the front desk and report it and they will send down their security bc it happend to me once I was followed thru the whole store I thought it was security and it wasnt

luvbug00 replied: I haven't cought anyone looking but Mya is in the cart with me at all times. I am very protective in public places.

Brias3 replied: I go out of my way to be extra protective in public places too. I don't care if we are all in the same aisle even- no matter what, I like to have Mason in the cart and Ryan and Aliyah need to be holding onto the cart or me in some way at all times. It freaks me out to think of such strange people out there.

I remember once to this day a time when I was a child and my parents, younger sister and I were shopping. We were buying a new patio set and the children's toy section was right in the same area. My mom asked me to take my sister down an aisle right in front of where we were talking to the salesperson but I refused. I had noticed this man following us throughout the store and was completely freaked out. I kept telling my mom no and finally told her why, even though he was literally 10 feet away staring at us. Naturally, we all left immediately but to this day, all these years later, I can remember his face. It FREAKED me out at the time.

stella6979 replied:
I had a experience as well when I was about 5 or 6. I remember being in a party store with my Mom and asked her if I could go to the candy isle. Well back then, parents didn't worry as much as we have too now so she let me. As I was standing there looking, some guy came up to me and asked if I wanted him to buy me something. He said something like "go ahead and pick something out, I'll buy it for you". Even at such a young age I knew this guy was bad news. I took off running to my Mom and by the time she got to the front of the store he was gone.

toady_buckshot_noodle replied: I was in Wal-Mart a few weeks ago with AnaBeth and my mom. I had AnaBeth in the cart and this older lady, I'd say around 65 who worked there came up and said, "oh, blonde hair and dark brown eyes, she's going to be HOT one day." I couldn't believe it. I mean number one coming from a lady and plus a lady of her age. I just turned around and walked away.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: You did an excellent job of protecting your baby,Bri! BTDT! I think that in this day and age you can never be too careful! If they are just admiring your child and you step in then no harm done right? MUCH better safe than sorry! After the past few months and the things I know now, I unfortunatly don't trust the intentions of very many people at all!

Kat replied: I've been in a few situations where people came up to comment on my daughter, and something about them just creeped me out - it was never something I could put my finger on - just something I didn't like about them. Always better to be safe than sorry, and get your child out of those situations.

Kaitlin'smom replied: Kait is usually in the cart with me unless we are someplace with no carts or just getting one or 2 things. I have had a couple of people creep me out both when I have had her with me and when I was alone. Anyone touch my baby better watch out I will not be responsible for what will happen to them. I am ALWAYS looking out when she is with me.

stella6979 replied:
I also think it's important to teach your kids to watch out as well. A lot of parents try to keep their kids safe by not telling them things, but I think the more they know the better. It's unfortunate that we have to instill fear in our kids but that's the world we live in and you can never be too cautious.

luvmykids replied: We went to a tiny circus in our small town a few years ago, and Colt and Macie got their faces painted. When it was Kylie's turn she absolutely freaked out, would not even sit on my lap to have it done, it went on for a few minutes and as we were walking away she turned around to the guy doing the face painting and said "I do not like you and stop looking at me." It was then I realized he was really creepy and maybe he was harmless, maybe not, but I learned that my children may have instincts as good or better than mine and should be taught to pay attention to that.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I've never caught anyone doing that, either. But, my dad loves kids and he loves to watch them. I know that sounds weird and trust me, my dad would never hurt anyone and he isn't aware that he is doing it most of the time. He's pretty naive and something such as this would never cross his mind. And when he's looking at the kids he normally has a huge grin on his face and will say something to the mother about "Oh I just love the way kids do such and such" or "that's such a unique color of hair...I don't see that often" or he might say something about his grandkids. No one has ever said anything to him or been rude, but I'm sure at one point or another someone must have thought "Why is that man staring at my child?"

Kids are so amazing to some people and bring joy to most older people. I really don't think I would think twice if someone were 'admiring' my child. I do all I can to protect them so if someone wants to look at them, then so be it. I don't let them out of my sight. Now touch them and YOU DIE!!!

luvmykids replied:
Ditto. And my kids are a little on the friendly side so they start conversations with random people. For the most part I don't mind it but if someone creeped me out I'd hightail it away.

Kat replied:

I normally don't, either, but there are just some people who come across as creepy.

mckayleesmom replied:
Watching a child and laughing at their antics is one thing....Aimee...I wish you could have seen it...It was not that kind of stare...Mckaylee is very friendly and lots of men and woman stare at her and laugh because she is usually bouncing off the walls. But this was just different and wierd...I have never had a wierd feeling like this before....

ions_momma replied:


The looking doesnt really bother me, unless it is just someone that looks very creepy and gives me a bad feeling.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I re-read your original post and missed the part where you said "Not all men...Just some hit me the wrong way" I totally get what you mean. Some people give me the creeps. It's the manner in which they are looking. And yes, I've had these experiences, but not with my kids...with ME!!! It still makes me shudder to think about it.

On another note, my best friend was flying awhile back and noticed 2 children were flying alone...she took it upon herself to keep an eye on these children. She noticed this man watching them from the time their granny told them bye at the gate til they got on the plane. (as if it wasn't obvious enough, passengers who fly alone wear a bright badge around their necks It's just a target, IMO) Guess where he sat? Yep, right next to these kids. My best friend sat right behind them so she could watch them. (She was flying Southwest and it wasn't a full flight so she was able to pick her seat) She is a minister's wife and is very aware of child predators and how they 'attack' their prey. He was a classic case. Talking to the kids, getting them to trust him and then he started tickling them. It's amazing how fast it happens. She flagged down the stewardess and the stewardess took a seat in the row next to them and kept an eye out. When the plane landed they took the man aside and questioned him until the kids were safe in their parent's arms. Imagine how fast that guy could have had those children in the bathroom had something not been done. It makes me SICK to think that there are people like that around every corner. Oh and this was a 45 min flight from Dallas to Lubbock.

msoulz replied: YES, this has happened to me also, and I fully believe in trusting my gut. I'd rather have someone accuse me of being rude and/or obnoxious than have something happen to my child because I was nice to someone who gave me the creeps!!!!!

I have a really good book about just such things called "Protecting the Gift" by Gavin DeBecker. I highly recommend this book. He has a different way of thinking about some of the things we have been taught, such as the old "don't talk to strangers", but it's very full of fabulous information. HE does drop some names, which is a bit annoying, but overlooking that, it's great. Trusting your instincts is one of his big themes, as well as statistically your child is way more likely to be a victim of someone he/she knows, not of a stranger. Good stuff to keep in mind!!

Cece00 replied: Not that I have ever noticed.

Although this old man was being creepy & staring @ ME the other day. I noticed him & then Dh said "That old guy is looking @ your ass." and he kept looking at me...we saw him like 5 times.

Gross.

Maybe I should be watching more closely for ppl looking strangely @ my children?

Bee_Kay replied: Well...... being that Ashley is now 15 years old and ....... developed into a beautiful young lady, I have to answer YES YES YES!

It p*sses me off to no end when she and I are shopping and I catch college guys (and some older) "checking her out". I could just backhand them into next week and threaten their "manhood" if they don't keep their eyes off my little girl!

Nina J replied: I have. At the park, a guy was looking at Emily really weird. I followed my gut instinct and left straight away.

Some people just give me the creeps. I don't know why, but something just tells me they're not right in some way.

I think that it's best to just follow your instincts around people that give you the creeps. In todays society, you hear how many people are interested in children in the wrong way. Some people think something like that will never happen to there kids, but it's an undeniable fact that some people are not good humans. We should take precautions and always remember in the back of our minds that people hurt kids, potentially our kids. JMO.

edited to say: About Aimee's post, and her dad, I think that besides from watching out from people that could hurt our kids, we should consider the people who like children, but in the right way. I've had some great conversations at the park with men and women, and usually they start the conversation with a comment about Emily or Des. Some people are just kind. I like to think that I know who's nice and who's not, but honestly I don't. I try to give people a chance, and follow my instincts when I feel that something isn't right. Again, JMO