Teaching Littles to Respect the Police

It's a scary world out there. After you become a parent, the world actually gets even scarier.

You become acutely aware of how vulnerable you are: always holding a baby or carrier, holding hands to get through parking lots, bent over in the backseat buckling buckles or finding sippy cups, lugging a diaper bag with your one free hand, etc.

You become acutely aware of the crushing responsibility to keep your children safe from those who may do them harm.

I have things worth protecting in my life. I have a family, a home, a business, and personal property that my husband and I have worked hard for and made sacrifices to acquire. While the responsibility to protect those things falls squarely upon my (and my husband's) shoulders, the police do a great deal to help maintain that security.

I want my children to know that the police have a shitty job. Don't believe me? Here's how one cop explains the perpetual catch-22 that they find themselves in. They sacrifice and their families sacrifice. Sure, everyone has been pulled over by "that cop" who came off like a complete jackass. But I'm not naive enough to act like I've never had a day where I came off like a complete jackass.

The police do a job that is desperately needed and frighteningly under-appreciated. My job as a parent is to teach my children that police officers, like fire fighters and members of the military, deserve their utmost respect. This respect will serve them well in any future encounters with the police because, like in many aspects of life, the attitude that you portray to others tends to be the attitude that you get back.

This week, Niamh and I will talk about the police and the job they do for us and our community. We will go out and pick up some small gift cards to Starbucks and pass them out to the officers we see in the mornings at Chick-Fil-A. We are also going to make some arts and crafts that have to do with police officers to start a conversation about who they are and what they do for us. Check out this printable or this idea for police car crafts. Pinterest has plenty of craft ideas to get your little ones thinking and talking about the police. Many police precincts will even offer a tour for a group of littles. Be creative and begin laying that foundation of respect.