stranger danger

A few weeks ago, I decided that I should probably talk to my kids about strangers. We've already talked about how important it is for them to never leave the playground with anyone other than Mommy but we've never talked about strangers. It's a difficult topic. I don't want to make my kids paranoid but I also don't want them walking around thinking everyone out there is their friend.
First we talked about what a stranger is. Then I asked them what they would do if someone they didn't know, a stranger, came up to them and said, "Come with me and I'll give you some candy." Their immediate response was, "Candy?! We love candy!" And that's when I knew that this talk was overdue.
So I told them that there are some people out there who might want to hurt them. Jem asked if I meant that people would want to hit and kick them or call them names. I told him that it would be like that and maybe worse. I said that they should never, ever go with anyone that they don't know. I told them that if someone they don't know offers them candy they should run away and come find me and tell me right away.
Afterwards, I wasn't sure how much of it they understood or even remembered. But just this morning, while driving in the car, Truett said, "Mommy, are those strangers?" He was pointing at some construction workers. I asked him if we knew them and he said no. I said that meant that they were strangers. He then said in a gruff sort of voice, "And they will say, 'Hey little boy. I have candy and sugar. Come with me.' And we will run away and tell you Mommy."
So I guess it stuck. Now if someone offered him a chance to ride a motorcycle all bets would be off.

photo by: MeghanTraynor  http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghant/4400066508/