You know better than that!!

The other day Little J and I were driving home from the store when we passed a little boy (maybe about 8) sitting on the side of the road with his bike. He was trying to wave down cars as they passed, but no one was stopping.

He was visibly upset and I thought he might have been hurt. Since Little J often gets a scrape or cut when we go to the park, I always carry a first-aid kit and instant cold pack in my trunk. I figured I could stop and help so I pulled over.

The little boy perked up and told me that he was fine, he just couldn’t get the chain back on his bike gears. I offered to help and he gladly handed the bike over. I fiddled with it for quite a few minutes with no success and figured it was time to try and find a plan B.

I asked the boy if his house was very far away and he indicated that it was. He said he could probably walk the bike home, but it was a long way and up a big hill. He looked completely defeated.

So, in my brilliance, I offered to drive him home.

As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I regretted them. His eyes turned into wide fearful saucers and he started stammering reasons why he could walk home.

Duh, I thought to myself, you know better than to offer a ride to a strange kid!

We spend all kinds of time going over stranger danger with Little J. It gets reinforced at pre-school and Tae Kwon Do. (Little J dutifully kicks the instructor while yelling “I don’t know you” everytime.) For pete’s sake, I taught it to my own class when I was teaching.

I regained my composure and told the kid he was smart not to get into the car with someone he doesn’t know (even though I am harmless). After a few more minutes, I was able to get the chain back on and one very happy boy rode off at breakneck speed to get away from the crazy lady.

Looking back, I realize a better option would have been to let him use my cell phone to call his mom to come get him, but at the time I just kind of spoke without thinking.

It kind of makes me sad that kids have to be so suspicious these days. I grew up in a tiny town in CT and knew just about everyone in my neighborhood. If I had been in the same boat, I would have had several adults who I knew that would have stopped and offered me assistance. And I probably would have been okay to take help from a mom with a pre-schooler, even if I didn’t know her.

But these kids live in a different world now. And it makes me sad.