For those with LOs in daycare ...

acaudill75 · December 2012

In light of recent events, I would urge everyone who has a child in daycare or school to speak with the principal or director with regards to what their emergency plan is. Both DH and I work for a police department, and he is meeting with the director of our girls' daycare to go over the "lets hope hell freezes over first" plan. Unfortunately, this is the new reality, and copy cats are a dime a dozen. For instance, at DDs' daycare, which is in a temple, there is already security in place because, well, its a temple, and always under threat, sadly. The director is to the point that she wants to hire armed security guards. I know most daycares don't need that level of protection, but there still needs to be a plan in place, should the worst ever happen. I know that I feel safer knowing DDs' daycare is taking measures to reduce the risk, and that DH is a part of it. It won't hurt you to have a meeting to find out what they plan to do, and if they aren't already thinking about it, maybe it will light a fire under their butts to do so. I pray that this never happens again, but lets be ready if it does.

megann831 · December 2012

Thanks for the suggestion. I really didn't want to send my LOs to daycare on Monday, but when I really think about it, I could have taken them to the mall or a play area or food shopping, and a similar tragedy could have occurred. There is just no way to prevent these horrible things from happening. When someone is that evil, they'll find a way.

This may be a very morbid thought, but I'm sure we're all thinking into things alot lately. I see something like this happening a daycare maybe during a custody battle. One parent loses, goes to the daycare and kills them all. How could that be prevented? Even if the directors are aware there is a custody battle, if the parent shoots their way in and shoots the people at the front, everyone is screwed.

tabaskoa · December 2012

I'm not any more worried/anxious now about something like this happening than I was a week ago. I trust that the teachers and administrators would protect my baby just like those teachers at Sandy Hook tried their very best. Yes, something terrible could happen. Something terrible could also happen at our house, or at Target, or every day while we are in the car for our 1 hour commute....

Increasing security isn't really going to stop something like this from happening. Sandy Hook had just increased security measures, but the shooter just busted in.

Our daycare did already send out a note on Monday that they are evaluating plans though...so that's great that they are proactive.

acaudill75 · December 2012

I'd rather take precautions and prevent an all out massacre then say well it could happen anywhere and why bother. The sad fact is that once one event like this occurs, there are copy cats that seek similar "fame". Its like breaking the golden seal on brutality. I for one support increased measures and proactive planning. Maybe if my school is on a higher alert, they can jump into action a fraction of a second sooner and save lives rather than take a wait and see approach. This isn't a matter of road rage or a smash and grab. Terrible tragedies happen all the time. Its how we learn to react to them that saves lives. I have no doubt that everyone at Sandy Hook was a hero that day given the circumstances leading up to that day. But to not learn from it is a sad mistake I'm not willing to sacrifice my girls for.

carlab44 · December 2012

I definitely think it is a good idea for the school/daycare and parents to refresh themselves with the emergency plan. Whether that plan is for a tragedy like this, a fire, an earthquake, etc. Not just to be confident that the school has a plan, but so the parents know how to react, where to meet their kids, how the school will disseminate information, etc.

But I don't think it is accurate or helpful to say that this is the new reality or copy cats are a dime a dozen. Statistically kids are still safer at school that virtually any place else - including their own home.

groovygrl · December 2012

I'm not familiar with many copycat situations in the last 10 yrs after very public mass shootings...? Also I am not familiar with many domestic violence type cases where someone randomly targeted a slew of ppl unrelated to the situation...

But I agree that DC facilities need plans & secure measures just like schools & other places.

To be honest, workplace violence freaks me out equally or even more, there have been more of those in the last 30 years than in schools and most workplaces are not especially secure, esp if the person has worked there & knows their way around.

acaudill75 · December 2012

If you want to start with Columbine, and then Va Tech, and the event in Scotland ...China and Sandy Hook in the space of a week or so. I'm probably missing a few. There are plenty that are averted that we don't hear about but an attempt is made. I'm not trying to be an alarmist. But unless you work as a first responder or with first responders, then it probably isn't in your nature to think, what if. But whatever, it was a suggestion. Really didn't think there would be people who would choose to argue about it, then again, people seem to want to argue every little point on this board. It was advice. Stick your head in the sand if you want, or be proactive. Your choice. Workplace violence may be more commonplace, but I will worry about my children first, me second.

groovygrl · December 2012

acaudill75:
If you want to start with Columbine, and then Va Tech, and the event in Scotland ...China and Sandy Hook in the space of a week or so. I'm probably missing a few. There are plenty that are averted that we don't hear about but an attempt is made. I'm not trying to be an alarmist. But unless you work as a first responder or with first responders, then it probably isn't in your nature to think, what if. But whatever, it was a suggestion. Really didn't think there would be people who would choose to argue about it, then again, people seem to want to argue every little point on this board. It was advice. Stick your head in the sand if you want, or be proactive. Your choice. Workplace violence may be more commonplace, but I will worry about my children first, me second.

Oh yes, I'm an evil me-first person & don't care about my kids. ???? I'm just saying there are many places that are not secure & the risk is higher and I never said that we should worry about one OR the other... they're both frightening. (and my kid would be orphaned/parentless if this occurred so it is not so ideal for them either fyi.) You must not have a job where the thought has crossed your mind that an employee you had to fire or discipline could go nuts on you.

Are you calling VA tech a copycat crime of a high school shooting that occurred 8 years prior? I'm not saying that the potential for copycating isn't out there & I'm sure there are many that are averted that the public never knows about but it was the 'dime a dozen' comment I think that ppl were questioning b/c you made it sound like there were just tons of ppl out there actually doing this in a copycat fashion shortly after a shooting, when that is just not really the case fo the most part. I have yet to read/hear anything linking Sandy Hook to China, just happening close in time does not make a copycat. The Sandy Hook shooter did not just up & decide to do this on a whim, that I'm sure of.

Not trying to argue with your point of being safe & not sorry & having important conversations with the people caring for your kids- you just came off in a way that was a bit over the top.

megann831 · December 2012

why are you so defensive and feel as though you're a superior parent?

acaudill75 · December 2012

megann831:
why are you so defensive and feel as though you're a superior parent?

I don't think I am a superior parent. I work in a police department, and I see terrible things all the time (although not the level of Sandy Hook). I really thought I was sharing a good piece of advice, and didn't really expect any responses. When I hear, meh, not a concern, I think wow. Ok, not a concern because you think its not important to know what your DC's plan of action is? That isn't bad parenting. I'm sure you are all great parents. Who am I to question your parenting style anyway? I do think, however, it is naive to think that this can't or won't happen again. Anyone who has had even an intro to psychology can tell you that people who don't get good attention will take bad attention. We see it all the time on this board with trolls (I'm sure there are some who will call me one). The types of people who do this sort of thing see themselves as going down in history as the person who did this incredible thing. I have sat through an active shooter training, and seen the mind set of the person who would do this. And if something that happened once in 1999, and then 8 years later, and then a couple years after that, and then a year after that, and then twice in one week? I call that an alarming trend. If you think those are isolated incidents, you're crazy. I think once in a hundred years in too many times. In the end, choose to believe what you want, take it personally, I don't care. I was just trying to give some good advice that you obviously took offense to. If you saw something more in it than that, well, that is something you need to ask yourself about.

jldittber · December 2012

Thanks, I think a big thing is having an emergency exit in each room (which ours does). These poor kids were in a fishbowl.

megann831 · December 2012

it's not that I don't think it couldn't happen here, its just that I don't think there's much we can do about it. Someone who is determined and crazy usually find a way to do what they want.

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