While meeting at the bus stop this morning, our newest neighbor revealed a bit of information she was told.

One of the men on the next road is elderly, and alcoholic. He drives while drunk. He has driven on the sidewalks and the yards before.

Lovely. So we all agreed that it is important to tell the kids to be careful of any car that is not driving as it should. To be aware. To RUN OUT OF THE WAY if a car veers towards them even if they are on the grass.

This will be tricky, mostly because kids are…well…kids. They rarely have the attention to things outside of their current focus. Can they notice a car? Sure. Will they remember the warning and get out of the way? Probably… But little worries will always cross my mind.

I can’t hide them from the world. There are bad things out there. There are people who hate them simply because they say the Sh’ma. I can’t protect them from all of that.

Sometimes the world feels like an awfully big and cold place.