Staying in hotel alone with a young child presents several unique problems. For instance, whenever I need to go anywhere I have to take Tyler with me. If I need ice, or need to run to the snack machine or even downstairs to my car, he has to come with me. Or does he?
He put this question to me last week when I needed to run to my car. He was involved in one of his TV programs and didn’t want to leave (or put his shoes on for that matter) to slog downstairs with me. “I’ll be okay,” he whined. I was tempted to let him stay while I ran downstairs but my common sense told me this was a bad idea. I told him that I couldn’t leave him alone. I told him about the child who disappeared from her hotel room after her parents left her alone. I didn’t want this to happen to him. He promised not to unlock the door for anyone but who knows what he would do. If someone coaxed him into opening the door, they could easily take him into their room and hurt him. Especially if that someone had been watching us and knew that we were alone.
So against his protest I drag him wherever I have to go. I have relaxed somewhat when we’re out in public but not too much. Tyler is still sort of trusting and oblivious that bad people exist in the world. He understands in theory but I think he believes nothing bad will happen to him. We were at Walmart Saturday and he had to go to the restroom. We were waiting for his turn to get his hair cut so I couldn’t leave and his father had gone to the car to put Tyler’s birthday presents up. I could see the restroom from where I was but I didn’t really want him to go in there alone. He wants to use the men’s restroom now. He will come into the ladies restroom with me if we both have to go but otherwise he wants to go alone. Some places I feel okay with this others…
Anyway, I let him go and it seemed like he was taking a long time to come back. When I walked over to the restroom he was playing by the water fountain. I chastised him for not coming right back but again, he didn’t see the big deal.
I have actually opened the door to the men’s room when I felt he was in there too long. Yep, I opened the door at Winn Dixie right at the exact time a gentlemen was shall I say using the facilities. But I didn’t care. Again, it was one of those times when he seemed like he was taking an awful long time.
I don’t consider myself to be overly protective. Some might. You don’t want to scare your kids and make them feel that they aren’t safe but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
See also:
When Should Kids be Allowed to Use Public Restrooms Alone?
Teach Your Kids How to Talk to Strangers