This week has been a big deviation from my daily routine, mostly because one of my children is on spring break. I park in roughly the same spot every morning at the same time and we walk my son to his classroom door. Then I drop Pea off at school and go home for a couple of hours before the pickups start.
However, due the weather and a juvenile arthritis flare, we were running late one so I chose to get into the drop off line so that Pork Chop could be dropped off in front of school without the three of us having to trudge through the rain. Later in the day, it sky was still weeping so I picked him up from the pickup line rather than parking. He had to wait with his class a little longer than usual but loved the extra “play” time.
When I chose to park and walk a couple of days later, a few of the other parents that park nearby every day remarked on my absence. This got me to thinking about how predictable the average stay at home mom’s routine can be.
The Importance of Situational Awareness for Your Family’s Safety
[clickToTweet tweet=”How predictable is your daily routine? Are you an easy target?” quote=”How predictable is your daily routine? Are you an easy target?”]
I used to work for a major home security company. I would speak to customers whose homes were burglarized while they were at work and heard of countless instances of criminals “scoping” out neighborhoods. (Remember Home Alone???). 90% of home burglaries occur during the day when most people are assumed to be at work. (Please note: my goal is not to scare SAHMs but as a past military spouse with a husband who worries about his family’s safety while he is deployed, I do advocate personal safety and situational awareness.)
Here are a few tips to help maintain a little less predictability and a little more personal safety.
- If there are multiple parking lots (such as is the case with our elementary school) park in a different lot a couple of days a week but don’t make it the same two days each week, like every Tuesday and Thursday.
- Vary the time you leave the house to some extent. I was leaving at 7:34a.m. on the dot each day! My new aim is to leave anytime within a half hour window.
- Run errands on different days. People could have easily figured out that I am in the house alone between certain hours. Now I try to mix up when I come home alone and when I leave.
- Lock your car doors and your house doors. I can be very forgetful when it comes to locking my truck but now my daughter (the household rule enforcer) reminds me.
- Always look out of the peephole or window before opening the door when someone unexpectedly knocks. Once, when my oldest was a newborn, I was nursing him in the wee hours of the morning when the doorbell rang. While the dogs were barking at the front door, my husband woke up and noticed a stranger pressed up against our back glass sliding door, peering in! Scary! Never answer the door if you don’t know who is there.
My weird paranoid personal safety tip: never park next to a van or minivan with dark windows. Someone hiding in the back can easily open the side door and grab you as you are walking to the driver’s side door, with nobody being the wiser since your car, and the abductor’s car would obstruct the view from passersby. This is especially important for mothers that have to strap children into car seats. I also don’t enter into my car if there is a man sitting in the passenger seat of the car parked next to my driver’s side. If I don’t have time to wait for him to leave, I will enter in from the other side. (I saw this tip on the news one night.) Yes–it’s a little crazy but I just don’t feel comfortable parking next to scary vans!
Do you have any personal safety tips to share?
Great information as a police officer got the last 27 years I have seen this played out many times. Awareness is the beginning of any personal safety program. What this writer just said is happening all over the place. Take your time and plan. Your safety is your responsibility.
http://www.bsafetechnology.com
It’s not just SAHMs – think about how extra predictable the weekday routine of a working mom is going to be!
Christa recently posted…True Mom Confession: Sometimes I *Hate* Family Life
Agreed. I just didn’t think of it because I am way more punctual picking up the kids than I ever was about getting to work! I kid, I kid :).
Great tips! I had never heard of not parking beside vans, but l will keep this in mind.
Sonya recently posted…Carter’s & OshKosh B’gosh Free Shipping (3/31 Only)
I heard to never park next to a van with someone inside it on the news on night. My paranoid self just expanded it to include any full sized van (I don’t really count minivans). Full sized vans with dark windows are creepy!
Very important tips for everyone to keep in mind. As someone who has been a victim before I always appreciate when someone reminds us that not everyone has our best interests in mind and that it’s important to put your safety first and to remain vigilant against those who wish to take advantage. This also extends to the internet. If it’s part of your routine to use the same password for every website, someone is going to exploit it.
I agree. I was a victim of a mugging a few years ago. It is easy to get complacent and too relaxed when you have a very set routine.
These are great reminders! It’s important to be aware and be careful!
Rachel G recently posted…10 Things to do in West Michigan
Thanks Rachel! It is awful that people have to think of safety but in this day and age it is important.
Great information for women everywhere. Stopping by from Tuned In Thursday at Lewis Lane Designs.
Megan Kubasch recently posted…Come Along Wednesdays Link Up 1
These are great tips. My hubby is a fireman, so I end up at home alone a lot. When alone I try to be conscious of my surroundings just cause now a days you never know. I got creeped out one time when someone kept ringing our doorbell on nights when Jeremy was at work for like a couple of weeks. I never opened the door and didn’t see who it was. You just never know what could happen and good to be as safe as you can. We got a house alarm.
By the way thanks for joining Tuned In Thursday 🙂
Nicki Lewis recently posted…Rangers Rant
I always think of the book/movie The Lovely Bones when the little girl gets attacked by a man because he knew her route to and from school. *shivers* There are some sickos out there and being alert and aware is key. The other day I got weird vibes from a dude a WalMart. I just made sure there were people around at ALL times when I was walking throughout the store and to my car in the parking lot. Good thing was that I was parked right in front! So my advice would be to trust your gut and be aware of your surroundings.
Gracielle recently posted…{Through the Lens Thursday} Doors
I agree. I was mugged once at an atm years ago and (though I fought back and kept my stuff–I don’t recommend that btw) I remember feeling that something was off right before the muggers tried to yank my purse of my shoulder. Now I always pay attention to that feeling.
These are great tips! Not something you *want* to think about, but really important to keep in mind.
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…Benjamin: The Selfie King
I don’t always keep it in the front of my mind but little things remind me every now and then to be more careful.
These are some great tips – my bf is former military as well and he sleeps at the edge of the bed nearest to the door in case he needs to hustle and if someone comes in, he’s the first in line. He also checks the doors 2 times before going to bed. I am hyper paranoid so I always observe my surroundings when going out, especially by myself and with my son – if I see a car is behind me too long I shift lanes or stray because you never know. I always lock doors, thankfully I don’t forget. My bf parks in different spots and sometimes goes on a different floor just for shits and giggles. We’re both hyper vigilant and I’m fine with that. 🙂 Happy Hump Day Herchel and stay safe! -Iva
AwesomelyOZ recently posted…GTFO: The Worry Wart Parent
Thanks, Iva! I am glad I am not the only one that thinks of these things. I agree. When it comes to my children and myself being here to take care of them, it is ok to be a little paranoid.