Pay attention to prevent abductions at the beach

I just spent a glorious week at the beach.  I could not have asked for more perfect weather or a more relaxing vacation.  I had lots of time to reflect, dream and watch people.  Though as a crime avoidance specialist, I’m never off the clock.  Unfortunately I witnessed more than a few deadbeat parents at the lake shore.

I realize that typically the term “deadbeat parent” is often used to refer to obligor parents who have freely chosen not to be a financially supportive parent in their children’s lives.  However in this case, I am using the term to refer to parents who are so engrossed in their own tan at the beach that their children become potential victims of abduction.

On any given sunny day, a sandy beach will look like a group of multicolored ants swarming a sidewalk that contains melted drippings from an ice cream cone. Sun worshipers are everywhere and the shore is filled with the jovial noise of laughter and shrills of delight as children of all ages jump the waves and frolic in the water.  It’s the perfect storm for a kidnapper.

I watched in horror the ambivalence of a set of grandparents with their noses in books as their young charge was playing solo down at the water’s edge; a dad chatting with his buddy while they sat facing the sun (all the better to work on his tan doncha know) oblivious  to his elementary aged daughter who was at his back, alone in the water repeatedly whining “dad, dad, dad, dad, you promised to come in and play with me”; and then there was the mother sunning herself with a towel over her face, ear buds in both ears as her young son was at least 75 feet away busy tormenting the seagulls.

These Deadbeat Parents are obligated to take watch over their children, yet they freely chose not to be responsible or take an active role in the welfare of their children’s lives.  They cared more about their book and their tan than the whereabouts of their own children!

If you don’t think that abductors watch for just such an opportunity, you’re kidding yourself.   There was so much noise, so many people and so much activity, any of those unattended children could have easily and quickly been snatched away.  It’s not uncommon to see parents with crying children in tow as they exit the beach.  We figure that they are simply fighting the extrication because they don’t want to go, the sand is too hot or they are merely tired.

I like to relax on the beach just as much as the next person.  But all things change when you have children.  We have designated drivers to ensure adults get home safely; yet to some it’s a foreign concept to have designated spotters on the beach to ensure our children can enjoy the great outdoors and return home safely at the end of the day. (And I’m not referring to passing this responsibility on to a lifeguard!)  If you don’t have another responsible party to take turns watching your children, then your tan and crossword puzzle will need to wait for another day.

Sadly, those who need to hear this message will never see it or think it doesn’t pertain to them. It’s time we all take a stand when we witness these deadbeat parents. No one wants to get involved; no one wants to offend another parent. No one wants to watch the frequent news stories of yet another missing child or attend a funeral for a child either.  But we do.

I never worry about action, but only inaction. – Winston Churchill

One Response to “Deadbeat Parents Put Kids at Risk”