PAY ATTENTION!!!

ok, people, i've got something serious to blog about today. i just found out that the beautiful baby that has been missing for just shy of two weeks from Monroe, MI named Neveah Buchanan has been found. Unfortunately, she was not found alive. She was found in the River Raisin.

now, her family is seriously in my prayers, as i'm sure they're in the prayers of all who have been following this story as vigilantly as i have. and i couldn't even imagine the pain and regret that her parents and other family members are experiencing. as badly as i want a child myself, i couldn't imagine what it would feel like to lose the miracle i'd made. my heart hurts for them. it really does

i also know that i am merely one of a million that do not understand the mindset of a person who could tear a child away from their family, do them harm, or even kill them. that is utterly insane to me.

but what boggles my mind even more, is that with the knowledge of the fact that there are people out there who seek out and harm children, there are still parents who don't pay enough attention to their kids. when i say pay attention, i'm not talking about the quality time a parent spends with their child. because unless i'm in your house watching how you raise your children, i can't say what is being done correctly or incorrectly. and even if i was there, it is not my place to even comment on how other people raise their children. however, we have got to become more aware that no matter where you live, or who lives near you, you need to watch your children when they go outside. now, realisticly speaking, there is an age cut-off to this rule. there is a point when your child is made fully aware (by you, hopefully) of the dangers of strangers, and what to do if one approaches, and what places are safe and not safe. but 5-years-old (the age of Neveah) is not that age.

now you can call me paranoid, but when a child is in my care, they don't make a move without me knowing where, when, why, and how. even if we are in the house, i make it my business to know where in the house they are. and if they're outside, then i'm outside. i'm not following them around, but they are in my sight. and, pretty much, under the age of 10, that's where they need to be. i understand that children need to be able to go outside and play and run free and all that. but if my child is under 10, then they can wait to run free until i'm able to at least be outside with them.

there are a lot of people that would call my thinking crazy and over-bearing. but i guarantee that the only way that a child that is mine, with me, or even around me will EVER be taken without my consent is if they are torn from my cold dead arms. point blank. period.

i'm just saying, if there is a child in your care, WATCH THEM!! if you see a young child outside by themself, playing, walking, doing nothing WATCH THEM!!! The saying "it takes a village..." has been ignored for a long time in this country. and we need to stop ignoring it. It is the responsibility of ANY adult to ensure the safety of a child. What if it were your child? What if you were watching your child play outside through the window, turned around to answer the phone, turn back and see your child is missing, and the neighbor across the street watering his grass doesn't have a clue were YOUR child has gone? what would you do? what if they never came back? what if they found YOUR baby's body and you had to identify their body? what would your life be like?

we need to pay attention to children. accept the responsibility!! stop looking past other people's children thinking that it's none of your business. what if it had been you that had seen Neveah outside on her scooter with no shoes by herself that evening? how would you feel now, knowing that baby was found encased in cement at the bank of a river?

i've been tempted to go against what i'm saying before. i have neighbors who have two small children (both under 5) who are often outside without supervision. we live in a pretty quiet neighborhood, but not quiet enough. there are cars that streak down the street oblivious to the sight of a small slide and toys that signal that there are small children around. now, don't get me wrong, my neighbors love their children alot. they really do. the mother only goes to work without her kids. if she's not at work, she's with them. but i began to worry when i see them outside at 10-11pm. sometimes right on their porch, other times running back and forth on the sidewalk.

i will admit, i do have a rather strong personality (ahem), and my first thought was to go over and tell their mother what i a brilliant idea i thought it was to let your babies even be awake at that hour. but, my second thought was that would not do anything towards the safety of children. so i formed a cordial speaking relationship with the children. so, when i was coming in the house after dark and would see one of those babies outside, i'd say hello and tell them to go in the house because it's too late for them to be outside alone. and you know what happened after about 2 weeks straight of the same thing? i started to notice that they rarely come outside without being watched anymore. and i don't see them out late at night hardly at all. their mother heard me talking to them through the window. and she knew i was right. i never criticized her parenting, and i never disrespected. but i let her and her children know that i was looking out for them. at different times during the day, they may come out and play. and their mother may very well be keeping an eye on them. but, sometimes i sit on my porch and watch them play just in case. and i will not hesitate to make sure any adult walking up to the house is supposed to be walking up to the house.

you never know what horror you could stop by simply paying attention and taking initiative. in this case, it could have saved the life of a beautiful 5-year-old girl.

Rest in peace, Neveah. your message has been heard.