Strangers

What do you do about strangers? My kids have reached the stage where they think it's hilarious to run away from me in large open spaces, like the beach, for instance, and aside from this being incredibly annoying and irritating, it's also dangerous. If one is going one way and the other another way, they could get lost. Someone could pick them up.

I like to joke that whoever did that would sure be sorry, because, honestly, you do not want to kidnap my toddlers. They're a handful. Unfortunately, it's not a funny world we live in. What if someone did? How do you explain that to a three year old?

I over-reached a bit, I admit it. But when your kids are running away from you at top speed in opposite directions on a crowded beach, you get a little nervous.

I told them about strangers and that some strangers were bad, and that you can't tell which are which. I said that some would help them and bring them back to me, but that some would take them away.

So, now, of course, while they run away from me just slightly less, they do ask really loud questions about strangers whenever we're in a public place.

"Is that lady a stranger? Is she a bad stranger? Why is it okay to talk to her if she is a stranger?"

"Because you are with mommy. It's different when you are with mommy."

"Is she my friend?"

"Well, kind of, but not really. She's just nice, right now."

I mean, you don't want to insult the kind older woman ogling over how cute your twins are, but you don't want them to go around thinking that everyone who compliments them or is nice to them when their parents aren't around are their friends.

With strangers, there are so many exceptions and changing situations to account for. It's a tough one, that's for sure. And until we topple it, you can bet we'll be insulting random adults wherever we go. So, advanced apologies. We're new at this.

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