Mom Shares How Neighbor Rushed To Save Her 13YO Daughter Who Was Being Followed

The streets feel unsafe as it is for our kids. While we hope that our kids would spend more time outside playing together and getting fresh air instead of always being on their tablets, it's not that simple. This is especially important for young girls who don't fully understand yet what it means to have to deal with these kinds of dangers.

This 13-year-old learned the hard way.

A Mom Shared Her Story On Twitter

A man followed my 13-year-old daughter this morning on her way to school.
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter

A mom felt like she had to let the world know what had just happened to her daughter to raise awareness.

She starts the story by explaining that her 13-year-old daughter was being followed by a man on her way to school.

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The School Was Only A Few Blocks Away

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She's a shy little thing, hauling a huge backpack and swinging her lunch bag.  And this morning a few blocks from the house, a man she didn't know walked toward her...then decided to turn and follow her for a while, calling out to her and asking where she was going.
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
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Before that day, the young girl felt safe walking to school with her backpack and lunch bag as it wasn't very far away.

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She was still innocent enough not to suspect or fear for anything to happen along her path. Until a strange man started walking towards her...

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The Girl Tried To Walk Away

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she kept walking
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
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There is no way the child could have really prepared for this moment so she decided to just keep walking. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple, as the man just followed her.

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The 13-year-old got lucky when her neighbor noticed what was happening and came to her rescue.

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The Mother Was Upset By The Incident

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No, he didn't touch her - but he scared her.  And it bugs me.  It really, really bugs me.  A stranger invaded a child's bright sunny morning and made her feel unsafe in her own neighbourhood.
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
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The saddest part of the story is that the young girl woke up that morning having no idea that this was even a possibility.

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Just like that, her innocence and view of the world were threatened by a stranger's decision.

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She Said She Felt Powerless

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She said later,
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
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Talking about the risk of this happening with a child and it actually happening are two very different things as it's hard for the kid to actually imagine it with their limited experience.

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Parents hope that their warning will be enough and that the kid will never have to find out.

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The Mom Fears This Will Happen Again

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This will happen again for her; we know it and she knows it. And I hope that next time, her community will be there again to help her feel safe. (Andrea is getting some very nice cupcakes this weekend, as a thank you).
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
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In this case, the young teen was lucky that her neighbor spotted her and helped her.

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This isn't guaranteed for the next time to come or for all the other young girls at risk of finding themselves in the same situation.

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The Mom Hates That This Even Happens

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I just hate that this sort of thing happens in the first place.  I hate what a stranger can take away from a child, and with such ease.  It was a beautiful, bright sunny morning.  And my little girl was so happy when she left the house.
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
Photo Credit: Snellk / Twitter
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The issue isn't knowing how to prepare girls for these sort of situations, but that we even need to.

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It's a sad reality and it's unclear for parents how to deal with it happening in the first place.

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It Has Happened For A long Time

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It happened to me at 14 , was followed all the way home .I am now 51 and still remember the feeling, I am so sorry your beautiful girl had to experience this.
Photo Credit: Tinaboussios / Twitter
Photo Credit: Tinaboussios / Twitter
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The mom's post went viral and comments came flooding in. Many shared similar experiences happening to their kids.

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However, some recalled the same thing happening to themselves when they were young.

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Some Felt Like It's Up To Men To Help

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Men must do more and do better. They must actively teach their sons, teach each other, and hold themselves accountable for the persistence of this kind of vile behavior. Stop making women carry all the weight of keeping their daughters safe.
Photo Credit: GeniusLr / Twitter
Photo Credit: GeniusLr / Twitter
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It seems like the solution might be in men's hands after all. Rather than teach girls how to deal with these situations, maybe men can teach themselves and each other how not to put girls and women in these situations.

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If they start young, they'll hold themselves accountable as adults.