Tough choices for all parents
A missing person poster near where police found a suitcase believed to contain the remains of the missing 8-year-old Keiby Kletzky in Brooklyn (July 13, 2011) Credit: AP
The gruesome murder of 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky is a horror to chill any parent's heart. He lived in a close-knit Hasidic community in Brooklyn, seemingly more insulated than most children from predatory violence.
As we absorb what was done to this child, it's easy to look at his death as an object lesson on the fearsome nature of the world, and apply it to our lives.
How do we best assure the safety of the children we love and care for? We will be tempted, even more than we normally are, to never let them out of sight. Keep them in the house, out of camps, off the streets, away from bikes and out of any kind of danger. This can't be done though, nor should we try.
We should talk to our children about strangers and dangers frankly, and make them aware of the much more common threat of being victimized by someone they know well. We should be cautious, but not paranoid, in where we send them, and minimize the threats they face. But we should allow them freedom as they get older, even knowing the world is not entirely safe, just as we let them learn to drive knowing that cars can kill.
Abduction by a stranger is staggeringly uncommon, less likely than being killed by lightning. We need to be careful with our kids, but sane and logical, understanding that living a gratifying and joyous life poses dangers -- and accepting that this is the kind of life we desire for our children. hN
