A Parent's Nightmare

I write this with tears in my eyes, as I read the story of a little boy, who begged to be allowed to walk home from camp on his own.  He was to meet his parents only 5 blocks away, in broad daylight, in one of the busiest neighborhoods.  He took a wrong turn and met pure evil. 
As parents, our first thuoghts are always with our children; their safety, well-being and happiness.  When we hear of another child, especially a little one, losing his life, we think of our own families, and how we would feel if this happened to us.  Now my children are older; one is 17 and one is 14.  The thoughts and fears don't disappear with age.  Maybe I am neurotic, but I still worry.  Yes, my daughter went to Europe for 3 weeks with 7 friends, but they knew what to do; always, always stay together, never let anyone buy you anything to eat or drink. Never leave one of your friends alone, even for a minute.
And now in a month and a half she will be off to college, on her own and making her own decisions.  I will still worry at night; is she walking by hereself when it's dark?  Will she meet someone at a party and "just this once" go alone with him or worse yet in a car?  But then I think-if there is one thing I raised both my children with, it is street smarts.   Maybe it means they trust people a little less.  But I know my daughter.  She knows the right thing to do  And I know that by letting her go, I amm giving her the greatest gift of all, which is the chance to grow up an independent, free-willed woman, who can make it on her own.
That is what those parents of the little 9 year boy, who begged his mommy to let him walk home for the first time were trying to do-give him the feeling of being grown up.  It was just a wrong turn, split second meeting that turned into disaster.  It could happen anywhere and to anyone.  We just have to hope and pray that we are lucky.  Hug your children a little tighter tonight.  I know I will.
LOVE