Yesterday should have been a day like any other.

I woke up, took the kiddo to school, worked from home while the baby slept, picked up my oldest and then headed to my favorite craft store to buy some Cricut supplies that happened to be on sale (score!). It should have been a fairly normal routine in my house as DIYer and craft store addict.

But yesterday was NOT normal.

As I wandered around the store I noticed something out of place. On EVERY aisle there was a man. He was wearing a big black jacket, had a baseball cap pulled down low and he kept looking at my oldest son.

At first I brushed it off. Coincidences happen right? Maybe he just happens to have the same affinity for stamps and scrapbook paper I do. Who am I to judge?

But by the third aisle I began to get nervous. I noticed other things. He didn’t have a cart or a basket. He was always entering the end of the aisle closest to my son. He would pick up and fiddle one or two items while looking at my son out of the corner of his eye. As soon as I would look at him he would walk away. Only to repeat it on the next aisle. Something wasn’t right.

As a teen and young adult I worked for this particular retail chain. I knew that if they suspected someone was stealing they may have an incognito employee follow the customer. As the man appeared on the tenth aisle I was on, despite me having back tracked, I actually hoped that that is what was going on.

I stood on an aisle and texted my husband. Telling him I felt like I was being followed. That I felt like the man was either after my purse or kids. I told him it was crazy because I NEVER feel this way but something was WRONG. As I stood there texting the man walked by the end of the aisle 4 times, looking at my son every single time.

My husband told me to go to the front of the store. As I exited the aisle the man was standing right there at the end cap fiddling with journaling supplies geared towards teenaged girls. As we passed he watched my son.

I pulled aside an employee. I explained the situation. I told her I was going to be checking out then leaving but I wanted them to know. I mentioned I used to work for the chain and I wasn’t sure if they were having me tailed because they thought I was stealing, but if they weren’t I didn’t want some other woman targeted who might be trying to shop, juggle a baby, and an older child.

She called the manager who confirmed it was NOT an employee. They offered to walk me to my car and said they would follow the man to make sure he didn’t follow anyone else. I am eternally grateful that they took my concern seriously.

Maybe there IS another explanation. Maybe it was weirdest series of coincidences I have ever experienced. But my gut tells me otherwise. My gut tells me that our day could have had a very different ending.

I refuse to believe that we live in  a dark and dangerous world. I choose to believe that the vast majority of people are good, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to watch out for the nefarious outliers.

The most important thing any of us can do as parents is be aware. I know the baby may be crying and you just need to hunt for those three things you ran into grab. I know your brain can only be pulled in so many directions. I know you just don’t have it in you to fight with your oldest about staying closer than two feet from you as the baby whines. I know because it’s my life too.

As I shop I’m juggling so many different things it would be so easy to let my surroundings just become background noise. But the scary truth is as parents we cannot afford to. We have to be aware of the people around us and the situations we are in. Because while it may only be a one in a million chance that something could happen, it can happen. None of the statistics will matter if it is your child who disappears from a craft store, park, or anywhere else.

If you do happen to notice something out of place, let someone know. Let them know not only for your own sake but for that mom over there who is running on two hours of sleep who may not notice someone following them. That mom who has been me at times. That mom who has been you. I refuse to believe the world is dark dangerous place but it is so much safer if we are aware and watch out for each other too.

Afterwords I talked to my son. It wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have, but it was one we needed. At 6 he is old enough to hear that there was a reason mommy wanted him on my heels at the store, that there was a reason I wouldn’t let go of his hand despite his protests. I don’t want him scared of the world, I don’t want him to be afraid to experience life, but I do want him safe. So we rehashed the old stranger danger speech. This time he heartbreakingly old enough to understand what is written between the lines. We talked about awareness and noticing who is near you or if someone is watching you. We talked about what to do if anyone ever makes you feel uncomfortable (TELL SOMEONE). Finally we talked about how most people are good, but that we still need to watch out for those who aren’t.

I hope you never find yourself in the spot I was in today. But just in case talk to your kids about stranger danger. Talk to them about what to do. Parents please pay attention and be aware, with the hustle and bustle of the holidays coming up it’s too easy not to. Slow down and keep those babies safe.