I find I get really obsessed with this type of thing. I was almost abducted as a child back in the 60's. We lived in the quiet suburbs.
I had a lemonade stand just outside my front door on the front lawn.(I cringe everytime I see kids with lemonade stands with no parent supervision, there usually never is) My Mom was in the kitchen which faced the back yard.
A guy drove up and bought a lemonade. I remember him being quite handsome and wearing a suit. He seemed so nice. He asked me for directions to a street was which was just at the end of my street. When I told him to just keep driving and he would find it he acted confused. He kept saying he didn't understand and could I get in the car and go with him and show him. I remember thinking about it but my Mom's words stuck in my head "never go anywhere with a stranger" My Mom had a controlling way about her and I hated getting in trouble as she nagged at me. I was more worried about her getting mad at me than I was about this man. He seemed so nice and I wasn't frightened by him at all. I didn't get in or she would have spanked me for sure. If I'd only known then that I wouldn't have returned home to get spanked if I got in that car. He kept insisting so I said I would ride on my bike in front of his car and he could follow me. He must have drove off, I can't remember anything past that. Years later this still haunts me and every time I hear that another child has been abducted it affects me for a long time. I watch the news and pray and pray that they will be found. It's exhausting and frustrating. I can't imagine the horror the parents of abducted children must go through and especially the children. Oh the poor children.
I get borderline obsessed and really have to watch myself, it affects me so much. I'm an overprotective mother because of it and my kids are always complaining that I am the only parent that is so strict.(which I know isn't true) So, I'm now obsessing about these two boys and praying that they are ok. It will be very hard on Shawn especially to deal with what has happened to him.
I will get over it eventually until the next time. I think we all need to be so much more aware these days as this is not going to stop especially with the internet predators. We need to use the internet to our advantage and keep an eye out for missing children. They need us.
Kate