Recalling the day that I refused a ride with my Brother.
After learning about "stranger danger" from elementary school, I believed my Mom was testing me with an unexpected visit from my Brother at the school.
In case it's helpful, below are the topics covered in this post:
Learning About "Stranger Danger"
I learned about "stranger danger" in elementary school. I was about eight or nine years old. My classmates and I were taught not to trust strangers with an emphasis of not getting into a stranger's vehicle.
We completed activities to help us identify under what circumstances we could or should trust stranger. We were also given examples of how to manage situations when we are approached by a stranger who wanted us to go with them or take something they were offering.
In addition to learning about "stranger danger," we were given examples of when we should not accept anything or go with someone we knew. This part of the lesson confused me because I assumed I could trust my family and my Mom's friends.
The lesson scared me, but I felt prepared to deal with related situations to keep myself safe.
Mom Said...
That afternoon, I told my Mom about what we learned at school. I asked her why we were told we could not always trust relatives or family friends.
Mom gave me a few examples as to why that may be the case. She then told me that it was best to not go with anyone I did not previously know I needed to go with.
For example, if she was unable to pick me up from school, she or the school would let me know before the end of the school day if a relative or family friend would be there in her place.
If an adult I knew but did not expect to see waited outside the school building and said, "your Mom asked me to pick you up," I was supposed to say, "No thank you" and walk away.
If I felt endangered, I was told to find a teacher for help. Otherwise, I was to walk home on my own since I had a key to our place.
Unexpected School Visitor
That same week, I walked out of the school building to see my Brother waiting for me. Mom did not tell me he would be there. Still, I was excited to see him.
I ran over and gave him a big hug. I asked what he was doing there. He said, "Mom asked me to pick you up from school and drive you home."
I shook my head and said, "stranger danger." He was confused. I explained the conversation Mom and I had just a couple days prior about not getting into a vehicle with anyone I did not know was supposed to pick me up. Mom did not tell me he was coming, and so I was not going to leave with him.
He argued that he was my Brother, and he would never do anything to hurt me or put me in danger. Although I believed it to be true deep down inside, I thought I was being tested by Mom. I told him that is what all kidnappers say.
I started walking home with another kid who lived on the same street. We talked about "stranger danger" day and how I thought my Mom was testing me. When the kid asked how, I pointed at my Brother's car behind us.
My Brother turned on his car's emergency flashers and matched our slow walking speed. He waved other cars to pass him as he kept an eye on me. I explained to the other kid that I knew my Brother would never do anything to hurt me, but I also knew my Mom was the type to test me periodically.
When I got home, I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door. Before I entered the living room, I turned to see my Brother pull into the driveway. When he got out of his car, I quickly rushed in and locked the door behind me.
My Brother knocked on the door asking to be let in, but I told him, “No." While my Mom and I did not discuss it, I assumed that I should not allow anyone I did not expect into our home.
I remained indoors while he hung out in the driveway.
Not a Test
Several hours later, my Mom and Brother entered the living room. I ran over to hug them.
Mom asked why I gave my Brother a hard time. I simply explained that she did not tell me he was going to pick me up from school. I reminded her about our discussion a few days earlier.
Mom said she had to take care of something on short notice and asked him to take care of me until she returned. It never crossed her mind to call the school to let me know. She then asked me to apologize to him.
I refused to apologize, saying I did what I was told was the right thing to do. Instead, she owed me an apology for forgetting to tell me he was picking me up from school.
Mom apologized. A parent saying sorry was the best thing a kid could hear.
What's Next?
I enjoyed writing about and documenting a decent memory from my past. If you have a good memory you do not want to forget about any time soon, consider taking a few minutes to write it down!
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Simply Jelly Jam