McBloggy's Blog

Playdates and Home Invaders

Posted by: Katherine McDuffee

Thursday, April 2, 2009 4:01 PM

Our little neighborhood in Champaign seems to be getting less safe by the minute. While my daughter was having a playdate with her buddy the children at the end of our block weren’t having quite as much fun. Break-in, robbery, and theft those words seem fairly innocuous when compared with the phrase home invasion.

When the officer came to the door I wondered if the children’s CD we had on the boom box had disturbed anyone. Yes, our stereo is so old it could only be qualified as such. I quickly realized by his expression that something was very wrong. The officer informed us that there had been a home invasion at the end of our block. Did he say home invasion? Invasion brings to mind armies and little green spacemen (or gray if you like) ready to kill and dissect respectively. I thought certainly not, not on my block.

As time went by we began to see more police officers and they even brought out the dogs. It slowly sunk in that our quiet little street was not the safe little haven we thought it was. Sure, our cars were broken into a few nights before, but that was just kid stuff right? Criminals breaking into homes and terrifying young children is something that happens in the movies not here in good ole Chambana USA. That’s the thing though. It did.

We locked our doors and windows. We turned on the motion sensor lights we have never used before. That night when we went to bed I couldn’t sleep. It was in part because the lights kept coming on (bunnies and squirrels, and cats oh my) but mostly because it didn’t feel safe. I thought about posting a sign on our door: DON’T ROB US OR I’LL BE REALLY MAD! or IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO OUR PROPERTY I THINK I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTACK YOU WITH A BROOM! Not all my thoughts were so funny.

I thought about buying a gun. I really did. How dare these people think they can walk into our homes and take our things, our money, and maybe even our lives? I feel that I have a God given right to protect my life and the lives of my children. I questioned what that might mean if that right was ever tested. It was not one of the best nights I have ever had. I quickly realized that I am every bit as ferocious as any wild animal when it comes to protecting my young. It was one of the darkest nights I have ever known.

In the light of morning with a few cups of coffee under my belt I saw things a bit differently. While I still intend to protect my family I found myself thinking about how different my life might be under another set of circumstances. I have a supportive extended family, two churches that would gladly help meet any need my family might have, and God has provided for us financially thus far. What if that wasn’t the case? What if my children were hungry? What happens when my husband loses his job (as he very well may)? What would I do?

It is easy to build up a wall between ourselves and the poor. We get so wrapped up in our own problems it often becomes difficult to see others struggling. Does this mean I condone theft? No, but I can do more to help fend off the sort of desperation that might make someone go to these lengths to feed their family. I would challenge you to do the same. Grow a garden and share with your neighbors. Pick up one can of soup each time you go shopping and take it to the food bank. Donate diapers or baby food to the Crisis Nursery here in town.

Do something.

Comments