Be extra vigilant this festive season

The festive season is here and it comes with a bag of blessings, throwing caution to the wind and recklessness. My mother always used to tell me that Christmas season comes with celebrations and ‘mafwete’ (bad luck in our lingua franca) and for that reason there is need to be extra vigilant and watchful.

This is the season there is an upsurge of accidents, children getting lost and kidnapped and all manner of evil. A friend was, a few weeks ago, thrown into a three-day nightmare when her six-year-old son disappeared from the estate.

Thank God the story ended well and the child was found by police safe and unharmed. The boy was just playing outside in the court as usual but suddenly he was lured by bigger boys and they ventured out of the estate to explore the area. The mother rarely checks on him because she assumes the estate is safe and the boy is big enough but now she has learnt her lesson.

So as we enter the festive season, let’s remind ourselves of a few ways we can exercise caution and vigilance when it comes to our children.

Make frequent calls home: Many mothers will tell you, they call home frequently when they have a small baby or sick one, otherwise when things appear OK, they rarely call the house help to ask how things are.

But it always helps especially this season when the children have closed school to call home and ask how the bigger children are doing and reminding the house help to keep checking on them. I always call my house help to inquire where my seven-year-old daughter Tasha is playing and how her one-year-old brother is doing. By calling frequently, you keep the girl on her toes so that she can keep a close eye on your precious jewels.

Watchful eye: It also means when you are at home with the children, you keep a watchful eye on them especially if they are playing outside or you are visiting a friend with them. Check on them every so often to ensure they have not ventured into dangerous traps and unknown territories.

Cut down on sleepovers: By the way I don’t let my kids go for sleep overs because of obvious dangers it exposes them to. Research shows majority of people who defile kids are known to them and live under one roof with them.

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So because of that reality, I would rather have my kids under my roof where I can monitor them rather than letting them go to a friend’s house where some rogue uncle may pounce on them at night. So if you are the type that allows your children to attend sleepovers, make sure the host watches over them closely.

Get responsible and trusted care givers: This is that season that most house helps take a Christmas break, leaving careers moms stranded and desperate. Remember when getting a replacement, always do a thorough background check on the character lest you bring a monster into the house.