A few weeks ago, we came home to find our double-locked basement door open and our dog Maxwell gone. It appeared someone tried to break into our house. The police department came and did their thing, animal control found our dog, and life resumed. Or did it?
While the police department isn’t too sure what happened (we’re all fine and nothing was taken), my kids were understandably more than a little freaked out. What’s a mom to do?
The officers gave a few implausible explanations, mostly to make the kids feel better, but that isn’t enough.
What’s left is that rather unsettling period of feeling unsafe and uneasy in your own home. And even more so for the kids. As the three police officers searched the house, and then came back to our living room to talk, I asked if they could direct some of their conversation to the kids. Kids who were now more than a little apprehensive.
The officers assured the kids that no one was in the house now. That everything would be fine. That there was no reason to be scared. And lastly, that they wouldn’t let us stay in the house if they thought there was any reason to be concerned. That certainly helped. A little. But that night, understandably, my bed was extra full. Although we don’t (and likely won’t) know the specifics of what happened, it is one of the worst feelings when your kids don’t feel safe.
…