Situational awareness today

3169 Views 24 Replies 17 Participants Last post by MPDC66, Sep 12, 2009

MamaBear

Discussion Starter · Aug 18, 2009 (Edited)

I thought I'd pass along something that happened today. My neighbor two doors down was out at an appointment and I agreed to watch her two kids. They are 8 and 10 and good friends with my two kids ages (next month) 13 and 15. Anyway, the kids have been going back and forth between our houses checking on their new little dog. I'm in the office getting school stuff together.

I see a work truck drive in the cul-de-sac and stop in my neighbor's driveway and a man got out of the truck. I'm already on my way out the door headed over there. He is knocking on the front door when he sees me walk up. I told him I was the neighbor and the homeowner is out (I knew she was having a sliding glass door repairman come by but he was early). I was curious as to what the kids alone in the house would do so we waited. They never came to the door so I grabbed the handle and *opened* the front door. Don't think there was not a lecture coming for the kids.

I called their names and told them I was in the house and they all appeared from behind doors and from other rooms. They did the right thing by hiding and not answering the door but did the WRONG thing by leaving the door unlocked.

I said, 'excuse me' to the worker and launched into a safety lecture with all the kids staring at me with the deer in headlights look. Even the worker was impressed that I seized the moment to point out what could have gone terribly wrong had he been a bad guy. I told the kids that while they did right to not answer the door and stay out of sight they did terribly wrong by making it easy for someone - me - to walk right in the front door.

Great! I need to go because my daughter came over to inform me that the neighbor boy is stuck in the dryer while they were playing hide and seek.

Sheesh. Like I have time for this. I'm sure my neighbor is not going to like this. :rolf :rolf

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MamaBear

Discussion Starter · #2 · Aug 18, 2009

Well, ok, he got out of the dryer ok. Now back to the story.

Anyway, I don't know that this mother talks to her kids about safety and crime so I scaled back the lecture so as not to scare them (the neighbor kids, mine get this full scale lecture all the time) but let them know that doors need to be locked at all times...even in our safe neighborhood.

My daughter did pull me aside while the other kids were busy and tell me that it was the boys who came in last and did not lock the door behind them. It also did not occur to her to get up and lock the door because they were in a different room when the boys came over. My son knows better than this and did not think to lock the door at a neighbor's house. He knows now.

All of this to say that situational awareness must start young and stay consistent in your teaching. As these kids get older locking doors and looking around parking lots will become second nature to them.

I did not inform this worker that I was also carrying. It's none of his business and my neighbors do not know. Yes, I had my 9mm on my hip as we were talking.

He didn't have a clue which is the way it is supposed to be.

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Hodawg

· #3 · Aug 18, 2009

Excellent job, MB! :clap :clap And WAR EAGLE! to you!

Beers,
Ken

Knapper

· #4 · Aug 18, 2009

safety lecture with all the kids staring at me with the deer in headlights look.

I know that look, I've had that look, I've created that look.

Excellent job, yes, it starts young.

My dad taught me this stuff when I was young, about always paying attention to what goes on around you (situational awareness) and I have passed lessons along myself.
Glad the kid made it out of the dryer ok!
Jess

Rvrctyrngr

· #5 · Aug 18, 2009

I'd have had a chat with them, too. Leaving the door unlocked, an armed, rampaging MamaBear waltzed right into the house!

Scary stuff.

Nicely done, MB.

Red Dawg

· #6 · Aug 19, 2009

+1 MamaBear. Nicely done.:thumsup

Xbonz

· #7 · Aug 19, 2009

Rvrctyrngr said:
I'd have had a chat with them, too. Leaving the door unlocked, an armed, rampaging MamaBear waltzed right into the house!

Scary stuff.

Nicely done, MB.

I can't believe she locked the boy in the dryer as punishment....

Steve48

· #8 · Aug 19, 2009

Great story, MB. :thumsup

Motham

· #9 · Aug 19, 2009

Well done MB!! And with a little humor.
Glad one of the other kids didn't slam the dryer door and start it!:rolf

LevelG27

· #10 · Aug 19, 2009

May I ask if there is a male in that house hold? If not I can totally see why. Most females I know including my girlfriend and her daughter (no matter how much I preach) simply think nothing can happen to them and pay no attention to their surroundings. PERIOD.

I always harp on keeping the garage door closed which was a hassle to do. I constantly was telling them all it takes is for anyone off the street to walk into the garage and into the house to rape, steal etc. etc. also home invasion is part of gang initiations I tell them. I basically gave up on the whole issue.

So finally I had a break through....They were watching the news and about a month ago a women was raped and killed during a home invasion in our area. So my girlfriend says to me "I have something to confess".(like she didn't want me to be right about something. lol)..."I saw the most frightening story on the news about how this female was raped and murdered during a home invasion. They came in through the garage"..."I'm going to keep it shut from now on"

I figured it would come down to something either actually happening or them seeing a terrify story to wake them up a bit on safety. I still have a long way to go but.....

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MamaBear

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 19, 2009

LevelG27,

The husbands are at work during the day so no males were present during this little incident. This family leaves the garage door open ALL day when the wife and kids are at home. I do not open mine unless they are home and I know the kids are out in the cul-de-sac playing. I'm a hawk watching them as they are outside. My office sits at the front of the house right in view of their playing area. This mom also watches the kids when they are outside playing.

My kids know to let me know where they are at all times. The kids automatically go to the nearest driveway when a car comes through. When it is playtime they tell me whose driveway (ours or the neighbors) they will be in because I can't see the driveways only the cul-de-sac. Now that mine are older I feel better about them being outside but I still watch them constantly.

I'm glad your GF took notice of the garage door situation. Mine is always down if the neighbors aren't out. It's just not open for discussion and the kids know it.

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Eagle Eye

· #12 · Aug 19, 2009

Maybe Mamabear can come to our house to give my teens (and a 21 YO and her soon to be cop boyfriend) a safety lecture about locking our front door and security. I have repeatedly had to tell them all about it after they walk in and go about their business and my voice falls on deaf ears. It's kind of like this ----> :deadhorse I usually have to get out of my nice comfy recliner and lock it myself or yell to them to lock it! Where we came from (midwest) we lived in a small community that we never had to lock the doors or windows. There was respect for other folks' stuff. Unfortunately not here. Times are changing! I figure when the oldest one moves out and has her own place I will scare the hell outta her and bust in to her place unannounced. That'll sure wake her up! As for her BF well he'll get it one day when his junk gets possessed by some thug. I won't scare him as he'll have a gun also and I know how well he shoots! One word of advice for all (I'm sure you know but I have to say it anyway) Locks only keep the honest people out. If a perp wants your stuff they'll take it anyway they can.

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capngeo

· #13 · Aug 19, 2009

Eagle Eye said:
One word of advice for all (I'm sure you know but I have to say it anyway) Locks only keep the honest people out. If a perp wants your stuff they'll take it anyway they can.

I've been a firefighter for oner twenty years... I don't care how good of a lock you buy, or how many... I can be inside your house in 30 seconds!

brownie

· #14 · Aug 19, 2009

capngeo said:
I've been a firefighter for oner twenty years... I don't care how good of a lock you buy, or how many... I can be inside your house in 30 seconds!

and that's through the roof !!!!!!! :rolf

Brownie

357HP

· #15 · Aug 19, 2009

We live in a very small gated community with 24-hour guards who constantly patrol the island in their vehicles. Unfortunately that has caused us to become extremely lax about locking doors (home or cars). Living here is a lot like the rural area where I grew up in AL, i.e. nobody locked anything because we knew everyone and were suspicious when "outsiders" entered the local area.

After reading some of the posts here, I have started trying to use some of the precautions listed and just last night briefed my wife, an habitual shopper and trusting, compassionate woman, on being more aware of what could be going down around her.

I truly appreciate the real-life knowledge being offered on this site!

HP

Paladin

· #16 · Aug 19, 2009

Well done MamaBear.

MamaBear

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 19, 2009

capngeo said:
I've been a firefighter for oner twenty years... I don't care how good of a lock you buy, or how many... I can be inside your house in 30 seconds!

capngeo,

If I ever needed you in a professional capacity one of two things are going to happen. Either I'm already standing on the curb watching my house burn to the ground or I'm yelling at you from the front door to hurry up.

MamaBear

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 19, 2009

357HP said:
After reading some of the posts here, I have started trying to use some of the precautions listed and just last night briefed my wife, an habitual shopper and trusting, compassionate woman, on being more aware of what could be going down around her.

I truly appreciate the real-life knowledge being offered on this site!

HP, this site is not only about guns. It is about keeping ourselves aware and safe in all situations.

I don't kid myself in how limited I am when it comes to educating the men on this site regarding anything gun related. I'm too new myself and am too busy learning from them. What I can do is offer a woman's perspective on safety and how we think (or don't think) about it.

If something I've said has caused you to be more aware for the women in your life then my time here is well spent.

Thank you for sharing. You're still kind of new here and have already noticed what a wealth of information is present on our forum. Good for you.

LevelG27

· #19 · Aug 19, 2009

capngeo said:
I've been a firefighter for oner twenty years... I don't care how good of a lock you buy, or how many... I can be inside your house in 30 seconds!

This may be true for you and the criminals who want to bust through a locked door as the other poster says but it is better than leaving a door unlocked isn't???

Second, having the door locked and having a criminal try to bust in the noise of doing so may just give us the time to grab our guns...

I would assume a criminal, most of the time, trying to break in while we are home has to make noise giving a few seconds warning. I am a very light sleeper so all I have to do is reach an arms length to grab my gun....

LevelG27

· #20 · Aug 19, 2009

MamaBear said:
LevelG27,

The husbands are at work during the day so no males were present during this little incident. This family leaves the garage door open ALL day when the wife and kids are at home. I do not open mine unless they are home and I know the kids are out in the cul-de-sac playing. I'm a hawk watching them as they are outside. My office sits at the front of the house right in view of their playing area. This mom also watches the kids when they are outside playing.

My kids know to let me know where they are at all times. The kids automatically go to the nearest driveway when a car comes through. When it is playtime they tell me whose driveway (ours or the neighbors) they will be in because I can't see the driveways only the cul-de-sac. Now that mine are older I feel better about them being outside but I still watch them constantly.

I'm glad your GF took notice of the garage door situation. Mine is always down if the neighbors aren't out. It's just not open for discussion and the kids know it.

Oh okay I thought when you specifically mentioned "she/her home" that she might of been a single parent with no male figure at all. Like me and Eagle Eye are beating a dead horse having to talk to our females in the house hold about safety/surroundings.

I get frustrated with a lot of my female friends who don't care about situational surroundings or basic safety.

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