Help me out. Am I over-reacting?

[CornField]

My 12-yr-old daughter walks to school each day. It's roughly 4 blocks from our home. This morning as she was walking, she was approached by an adult woman who asked if my daughter attended church. My daughter replied that she did not and turned to walk away. The woman followed and began to discuss a local Baptist Church. She passed my daughter a flyer.

My daughter handed it back and told the woman that we had a religion, but that we were not Christians. The woman began to press as to our family's religion.

Now, we are pagans, but we do not advertise it. It simply is not a smart move in our very Christian, very white community. My daughter understands that it is best if we just walk off... she tried.

The woman began pulling lots of brochures from a bag and handing them to my daughter as she walked down the road. She also continued to "minister" to my daughter (read: telling my daughter that she and her family were going to burn in hell if Jesus didn't enter our hearts) right up to the grounds of the school.

I'm really pissed about this. How dare an adult approach a child! The brochures are not appropriate reading material IMO and I'm rather distressed about what to do now.

Am I over-reacting? Should I just let this drop?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. contact the ACLU

[Hello_Kitty]

2. Contact the police too. She's harassing a child and that's creepy.

[childslibrarian]

3. Frankly after that incident

I would drive her or walk with her.

[Zensea]

4. Yes and no

In your position I wouldn't go looking for the woman or anything like that, but I would give your daughter advice.

I don't think you're overreacting.

[NC_Nurse]

5. No.

You are not over-reacting. The woman was totally inappropriate to harass a child about religion. I'm not sure what your recourse is, but this woman needs to be stopped. Period.

[Beaverhausen]

6. Definitely NOT overreacting.

you may want to also contact the school- if you think they'd be receptive, that is.

Being a pagan too, I can relate. Sounds like you've taught your daugher well. Blessings to her and you.

[Fleshdancer]

7. Your daughter was harrassed on the way to school.

No. You were not over reacting. Trust your instincts on this.

[DrWeird]

8. If my kid asked me what they should do the next time...

I'd just tell her to the the lady to fuck off.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. No you are not

this is harrassment. I'd check with the ACLU and the local authorities about this.

[baldguy]

10. Religious education is a PARENTS responsability.

You should react the same as you would if an adult asked your daughter for sex.

[the Kelly Gang]

11. frankly I would call the police ..it's 'stranger danger' so what if she

was a Baptist..maybe a child molestor will decide thats a good line to use..call the cops !

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. I agree...

If your school can do something, it probably won't.

Call the police, and offer a description of the woman. You don't need to offer info on your religion...simply explain that your child was harassed on the way to school by a stranger.

Sadly, it's clear that all kinds of wackos use Christianity to disguise their evil intentions in order to lure innocent victims.

Good for your daughter :hug: for handling a scary situation in a mature way. Children need to be instructed that whenever a stranger approaches and offers anything be it candy, toys, or heaven; they should not stop to talk, they should yell,"NO!" and run away as quickly as possible.

[MichiganVote]

12. Actually you should alert the school to the incident

Any form of harrassment of children on the way to school is a threat, regardless if the intent appears benign. Call the school, don't make it seem you're placing blame with them or panicing yourself. Rather, use it as an opportunity to alert the school to something out of the ordinary.

[Nikia]

13. It sounds inappropriate

I have been approached by people soliciting their church in parking lots and downtown areas. If there isn't a law against it in the pariculiar area, I suppose it is their right. I think that it is inappropriate to solicit children though, especially the continuation thing. It might have been alright if she said something brief about her church and handed a flyer. It was wrong for the woman to carry it any further. The woman's location near a school early in the morning makes it sound like they were targeting children, which is usually inappropriate. I don't necessarily think that handing out fliers in public places is wrong though, persuing a child is.

[allalone]

14. not overreacting

I would call the police. I do not like strangers confronting children.
Tell your child not to engage with a stranger. Just because it's a grownup does not mean she has to answer her. A no thank you and walk away.

[liontamer]

15. Call the police

and the school. Strangers shouldn't be allowed to harass your daughter

[liontamer]

16. delete

dupe

[miss_kitty]

17. that is totally offensive

that woman is totally off base-not a member of an organised religion here myself-i would say the previous posters gave you good advice-you may want to walk a few paces behind your daughter for a few days with a cell phone so you can dial 911-maybe look into getting a restraining order against the proselytizer, or finding out which church she goes to and contacting the pastor though. if they are good Christians, the pastor wouldn't want people freaked out by the actions of member of his flock doing god's work

sheesh-what an asshat! (my new favourite word)

[CornField]

19. WOW - y'all are fast!

I expected maybe 2 folks to respond. Thank you all so much for your input. I agree with you and will follow my instincts about this. It just doesn't feel right.

[St. Jarvitude]

20. Call the police - even if they're fundy, they have an obligation

If they do nothing, I'd immediately call the ACLU and seek legal action against the police force.

This is harassment straight-up.

[davsand]

21. I agree that you are justified to be upset.

I sure as heck would be. I know I'm not rational about it, but anybody doing that to a kid is victimizing them, and it is dead wrong. I personally, view it as a form of child abuse and would treat it that way. She messed with your kid and as such she needs to be held accountable.

I'd contact the school, I'd call the police AND I'd call that church up and pitch a fit. To be honest, If it was my kid and I knew who the woman was, I'd probably go have a loud "chat" with her. I'd also sure as heck cast a circle and ask for justice for anyone who abused my kid like that--but I'm not one of the "warm fuzzy" witches either...


Laura

[Flammable Materials]

22. If you know who the woman is ...

... I'd go to the police and get a restraining order out on her.

I had to deal with my own local school district after they allowed the Gideons to walk into my daughter's fifth grade public school classroom and hand a New Testament to every student.

[No2W2004]

23. NOT over reacting.

Forget the religious aspects....this person was acting in a very inappropriate way twoards your child. Make the school and the police aware that this is going on. The woman could be creepy but harmless, but then again, she could have other motives other than religion.