Children on the Streets in Cleveland...

SLOW DOWN!!! KIDS AT PLAY!!! Watch out for Kids being Kids!

It's 2011 and kids have better education than in the history of America. They have access to so much knowledge through television, games, the internet, and the world around them. Their maturity levels are far beyond the generations before them. Their academic achievements are accelerated these days as well. It's almost mind boggling watching my 9 year old do the same typical math I recall doing in a 10th Grade Geometry Class. Watching my child grow up is both amazing and scary...

As Spring rolls in; I remember the premature death of "FRANCINE" who was found murdered after being "missing" for a short period. She was only 12 years old when her life was taken. [1] I then remember a poster that I had on the front door of my home for several years that read: "IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO RAISE A CHILD!" I strongly believe this to be true.

As Spring weather gives way to our children roaming streets, riding bicycles, and walking to school and corner stores; I pray that the adults in our community have their eyes "wide open." I pray that proactive adults step up to the plate and protect the children in our community at large.

With so many single parent families in our community or children living in transient situations; it's hard to establish neighborly relationships with other families. Yet, children need and deserve observant adults in their world who are ready, willing, and able to speak up when the time comes.

As a parent, the chronic worry of the world around us impedes lots of childhood fun for my child... She cannot go past the next door neighbor's driveway with her bicycle alone. She cannot walk to the corner store alone. She cannot go half way down the street to visit a schoolmate due to environmental factors. She cannot play in the fenced in yard without supervision...It's quite frustrating to think of her childhood in this city like she's imprisoned into protective custody, but it is reality in 2011. Moreover, explaining the reasons she "Can't" do all these little things is really not easy...when I wish she could do them as innocently as I was able to do as a child. 

Ultimately, I am grateful for a small network of people who have invariably provided relief and direct help with her since her dad passed away last year. Without those little "ANGELS" who have provided relief, exhaustion may have taken its toll.

For all the people in our community who have made time to help a parent/family along or given respite to a parent; thank you. For all the adults who watch out for the kids of our community; I salute you. It's people like you who make the difference in our community at large. As Spring and Summer come into light; I pray that our community at large keeps the safety and welfare of our children utmost in their thoughts as good weather brings them out to play! 

 Please take care to watch out for the kids chasing balls and pets into the streets or riding their bicycles and big wheels into the streets...Please pay attention as the weather changes to kids playing in your neighborhood. 

Dangerous situations happen in a flash. I have met several adults who were "afraid of saying something to someone else's kid because they didn't want a parent to act out on them for intervening on dangerous circumstances..." Well, as a parent, I'd rather have another adult yell at my kid that may be in a dangerous situation rather than find out later that my child is hurt due to something that could have been prevented. I say this because adults should not fear protecting a child ever...yet they do.