Protecing Our Children

With all the highly publicized child kidnappings (Cayley, Hayleigh, and now the latest is little Sandra in California), it is scary to let your child out of your sight anymore. What is wrong with people?

When I was a child, we could get on our bikes and as long as we checked in every so often, we were good to be gone pretty much all day long. I know crime still happened way back when but it certainly doesn't seem like it happened as often or was so widespread. Nowadays, I wouldn't let my child ride around the block, let alone take off for hours at a time like I used to. Am I supposed to look into self defense products for my children now, like I would for myself, if they want to go outside?

We teach our kids about 'stranger danger' but it doesn't seem like it's enough. We can't arm our children but I can't let them run loose around the neighborhood either so they stay home in our yard. It's a good thing we have a large backyard for them.

How do we keep our children safe without suffocating them? That's a predicament.