As we all get ready for tonight, there are some important things to remember for safety. It's supposes to be a night of fun, laughter, and the occasional "fright" for the kids. It's a day when we all (adults included) get to dress up, pretend to be something/someone we're not, and have a good time. Mostly it's about taking some time with your family. But the ghosts and ghouls aren't the only things that come out on Halloween. When we think of safety on Halloween, we think of things like carrying a flashlight, wearing masks that allow us to see, maybe putting those litte reflective strips on the kids. Things like that. All very important stuff. But there's the other thing we need to protect them from. We don't really talk about it, mostly because we don't really want to think about. Not in my neigborhood, not my neighbor, not my friends, that can't happen to my children, it just can't. It's just to horrible. But that is exactly why it MUST be thought about. It's something that should sit in the back of every parent's mind not just Halloween or holidays, but everyday, every hour, every minute. Because the instant we don't think about it, a parent's worst fear can come true. In Texas they are already taking steps in three counties. Convicted child molesters must be home by 6 o'clock, with outside lights OFF. No exceptions. Even opening thier door to trick-or-treaters constitutes a crime. I am imploring everyone to take that extra little bit of time to know where your children are going, whose house they are walking up to, and most of all while you're with your children tonight NEVER, EVER, let them out of your site. In Florida, Halloween has the second highest occurence rate of child abductions over the rest of the year, second to Christmas season. It's really not as hard as you think. When you get into a car, don't you take the extra couple minutes to make sure your child is buckled up properly? When they ride a bick or skateboad don't we make sure they take a minute to put on pads and a helmet? It only takes a few minutes, if that to go over a safety check with your child. But it only takes an instant of unawareness to lose them. Federal law requires all sex offenders to register with thier state agencys. At the bottom of this post I'll include a link to a site that can give you a list of ALL convicted/registered sex offenders in your area. All you have to do is type in your zip code. But please don't stop there. Take a minute and talk with your child about what to do if confronted by a stranger. What to do and where to go if you get seperated. If possible take friends, especially if you have several kids. Try to have no more than 2 kids per adult. For example, tonight when we go we do it with the WHOLE family. My MIL, both SIL's, my mother will all be there. Sounds like a lot of trouble you say? Imagine the trouble a parent has to go through when the unthinkable happens. Children are abducted in this country every day. A heartbreaking number are never seen alive again. Please, please, take the little extra time it takes to keep your child safe.

Here's the link to the sexual offender registry..

http://www.sexcriminals.com/registration-notification/

Just click on your state, then click on the link to the online registry. It may be slow as the site is very busy. Please, do not take this lightly. There is SO much at stake.

MTD