On the way home the other night, I found myself starting a stranger danger talk. I can't remember what instigated it, but it's time. They've talked about it at school. It was probably 8 or 9 months ago that Andrew came home and told me, "We never ever ever ever ever ever ever talk to a stranger. A stranger only talks to himself."
My first hypothetical was a person he didn't know telling Andrew to come with them. He knew to say no to that. But then I said, "What if the stranger says, 'Come on, I have some really good candy!?" Andrew said, "I would go with them because I want the candy!" I swallowed very hard and then explained that person is lying and doesn't really have candy and Andrew should still say no. Then I went through every potential enticement I could think of -- trains, dogs, Legos, Dewberry Farm, and a few others. Now he knows the answer is no. He's all excited because I told him he should scream NO in his loudest voice even if he's inside. He liked the screaming part, but he told me, "No, I'm going to say 'NO THANK YOU, I DON'T WANT TO GO WITH YOU." Gotta love his school's emphasis on politeness.
I also explained I would never, ever send someone to pick him up that he doesn't know -- that it would always be someone in his family or the mom or dad of one of his friends at school. And now he's super excited because -- wait for it -- it might be Ellie's mom or dad and they could take him to see Ellie.
To lighten the mood, this morning I told him the two ways a baby can come out of the mom.
