America is a great place to live, but sometimes people do bad things to children. It’s important to protect them. Here are some things to remember:
1. Never leave your children alone in the car.
2. When you are out in public places or in other people’s homes, always watch your children at all times.
3. Don’t let children go in public restrooms alone. When mothers are in public with their sons, this can be tricky. Try to make your sons use the ladies restroom for as long as possible—and always go with them. When your sons are too old to use the ladies restroom, try to find a family restroom. If a family restroom isn’t available, wait outside the door until your son comes out of the restroom. (I still do this with Paul and he’s 13!)
4. Don’t let your children stay home alone until they are at least 10 or 11 years old. Even then, they should only stay home for a short time by themselves. Tell them not to answer the door or the phone for any reason. Teach your children what to do in case of an emergency (call 911, call a neighbor, or call a friend).
5. Don’t let your children undress, scream, or run wild in public. Also, don’t spank your children in public. Someone may call the police and report you as an abusive or negligent parent. This is rare, but it has happened.
