children

This name would be better suited for an Alternative Rock band and points out why children may need protection from their parents.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7522952.stm?lsm

It is a scary feeling, your heart stops and your worst fear paralyzes you from head to toes: your kid was just next to you and now is gone! You start screaming your kid's name first not to loud but then you realize that someone might have taken him (her) and you get totally insane!

In crowded places like a big store or an amusement park a lost kid becomes an easy pray for predators, who usually blend in the crowd waiting for an opportunity like this.

It takes a second for a kid to disappear! A quick thinking could save your kid of being abducted. Panic would only act on your disadvantage and waiting too long trying to find you child in the crowd will only delay help.

As a police officer, one of my duties is to inform and protect the children in my community. I have been giving presentations for the kids at school since 2003, and I can see how their safety guard has changed from a naive attitude to an awareness against predators. I believe that everything we can teach them is worth, especially if these teachings might save their lives one day.

About a week ago I came across Ms. Pamela Bennett who is the Victim Advocate , Section Chief for the Child Predator CyberCrime Unit in Jacksonville. She works for the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Florida and I knew through her that an enormous effort is taking place at this time to catch these criminals and remove them from the streets so our children can live without fear.

It truly is a sad day in America; when cruelty to animals raise more cries for justice, than the murder of our children. When will the madness stop? When will the people rise up and demand action from society, not, from just law enforcement, but from society as a whole. Law enforcement can not solve this problem on there own. The parents and citizens must get involved. As a citizen you have an obligation to society to report what you know about a crime. I know people are afraid to get involved, but you must; if the madness is going to stop! Remember the next murder could be you, or worse your grandchild. That would be pretty hard to live with, if you knew you had a chance to change it.

The following article was written less than one year after my mom died. Now, six years later, I still find myself gravitating toward mom. This time, I spent time with my high school / college friends and their kids in Tampa.  Alba and Kristen will always be my best friends. And Jaymie. They were in my wedding, I was in theirs. There is something surreal about having friends for 25 years. First of all you realize they have often known you longer than your spouse. Which at times is quite beneficial. Especially when life-changing decisions must be made. And that is what happens on a daily basis. You see, you get to a point in your life when you realize your best friends will fit on the sofa in your living room. It's really that simple. And it really was a great Spring Break.

Time passes. Life happens.  Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break.
Parents die. Colleagues forget. Careers end. No matter how much time and how many miles are between us, a friend is never far away. When you have to walk that valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the friends in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, praying on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...or come in and carry you out. When we begin this journey we have no idea of the joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor do we know how much we need each other. Every day.

I was waiting for my car's oil change to be done this afternoon and had a chance to read the February 2007 issue of Backpacker magazine, which had a great article on taking children hiking and getting them used to being outdoors. I can't say it enough: kids love the woods! Take them outside any chance you can. I know my love of hiking came from my parents taking me on trails when I was little ... as I grew older, I started wandering off on my own. One of my blog readers posed a question regards great places for a child's first backpacking trip, and I offered some suggestions in Central Florida.