The Big Bad Biker

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  Posted by LBeri January 21, 2012 - Filed in Personal Journal - 1,156 views
  

   

  Parents these days have to do everything in our power to protect our children. This includes educating them to the dangers around them, teaching them to call for help, and providing basic knowledge of good touch/bad touch, etc. Now, when we were young, we didn’t really need to worry much about strangers. But in today’s world, the children are inundated with stranger danger warnings and lessons on the importance of personal safety.

   

  I’ve also tried to raise my children to not be judgmental and treat everyone with kindness and respect. Except strangers, which she is to stay away from completely.  I suppose in a way, we put the fear of strangers in her which isn’t necessarily a bad thing until you’re in a long line at the cash register and strike up a conversation with the person behind you. My daughter would remind me every time of stranger danger and how I shouldn’t be talking to people I don’t know. I always explain that I can because I’m an adult and so on, so forth.

   

  One day, we’re in the grocery store produce section, my then 4 year old daughter in the seat clutching her favorite purple teddy. I park the cart and turn to select some fresh fruit. Standing next to me is a very tall grey bearded biker. He’s a slight bit heavy set and weathered from years of riding. To some people, I suppose he may have looked a little scary with his leather vest full of patches, snapped tightly around his midsection and the chain hanging from his belt connected to the wallet in his back pocket, his slightly scuffed black riding boots, worn jeans and a bandana covering most of this head. But his eyes told a different story. He didn’t look scary to me at all. But I’ve always been around all different kinds of people and am not easily intimidated by anyone. He turns to my daughter and comments about her teddy bear. She, obviously not wanting to speak with him doesn’t say a word, but hugs her teddy a little tighter. So I mention to him that she’s shy and we strike up a small conversation about the produce – he’s asking me how to select the best cantaloupe, I answer and turn to continue about my business. All of a sudden, I’m berated right in front of this gentleman by my daughter who is lecturing me on the rights and wrongs of talking to strangers. I explain to her that she’s safe with me and that aside from me; this man is probably gentler than anyone else in the store. He agreed and assured her that he would never do anything to hurt her and that in fact, he devoted his life to making sure children were kept safe. With that, we exchanged our good-bye’s and he walked away. As he turned his back to me, I saw the patch sewn onto the back of his vest. “B.A.C.A”. Yep, it was all in the eyes.