A to Z – Strangers

So this one… this particular A to Z letter.. My goodness. The changes between when I was a kid and now with my own kids… Fine, Fine! I know they read this… Young Adults. Whatever, you are still kids. Ask anyone who reads this who has kids, you will always be kids.

ok, back to the topic for the day Strangers. When I was a kid I was very aware of Strangers. I was told to keep the door locked and if someone came to the door to check if it was someone I knew before opening it. If someone called I was told to never say I was home alone but that my Mom was unavailable and to take a message. If I was uncomfortable and needed an adult I had a pile of phone numbers next to the phone. If you were going to a party there was a fair chance their were chaperones. Over a new friends house? Only if your parent had at least talked to your new friends parents on the phone and better if they met in person. I didn’t have it to bad since My grandparents we’re almost always at home. My friends though, I frequently had a few friends here after school to play until their parents came home.

Strangers today… My Daughter had/has more friends online then in real life. Mostly gamer people and so far as I can I do know them since I play online games with all of my kids. We’ve had people here at the house the kids met online through gaming. It’s a whole new world where you can meet and become friends with anyone from anywhere and no one bats an eye. In the back of my head though I can hear all the talks my Mom had with me, the assembly’s from school on “Stranger Danger”, and at times… I FREAK OUT!

I know it says 1998 but really it’s more like 1976 or so for me… Not sure when the strangers became a big thing but it was. Strangers with Candy were the biggest threat. It is nice to see the changes though. It should definitely be tempered with some common sense, which kids in general lack… But I have nightmares about strangers, perhaps you do to.