This is not a joke.
This is not an email or bulletin.
THIS IS REAL.
Firstly, MY DAUGHTER IS FINE. She's safe. She knew what to do, and ran away to get an adult, like I've taught her.
Secondly, my ex and my daughter live in a small town here in PA (about 45 minutes drive from me), where there's even a curfew for children under 16. It's not anywhere I'd ever expect something like this to happen. If anyone wants to know, I'd be glad to let you know where it is, so you can be sure to keep an eye open if you live in the area.
Here's what I know about it so far...
I got my usual nightly call at around 10:30, for my "goodnight kisses" phone call with my 6 year old daughter, Giovanna...
It was my ex-fiancee, not my daughter.
She said she had something to tell me.
She then explained how today, around 6:00 PM, a woman (yes, a woman) in a blue-green full-sized van pulled up in front of my daughter's babysitter's house, where my daughter was outside playing, and asked my daughter if she wanted to go with her to get some ice cream.
My daughter ran into the backyard, and then into the house to get the babysitter.
The babysitter got outside, but the van was gone.
No one called the police.
My ex didn't call the police.
Why? I still can't figure it out.
Obviously, I got extremely agitated at her, and forced her to call them, and report it. She argued with me for about a half hour before finally giving in and calling them.
She called me back about an hour later, and told me that they took a report over the phone, and my daughter answered the cops questions through my ex - they didn't even talk to my daughter directly. *head tilt*
I can't explain that one either...
Unfortunately, my daughter lives with my ex, and I have no say as to what goes on there from day to day, because obviously I want her with a different babysitter - but that won't happen because her current babysitter is also my ex's good friend.
I'm still in shock over it, and I doubt I'm going to be calm for the next few days. I'm going to call about it tomorrow, and make sure the cops do their jobs - since they didn't even come to talk to my daughter.
I think more should have been done, and they should have at least came to the house to talk to my daughter, let alone gone to the babysitter's house and questioned why she didn't call any earlier... questioned neighbors...
Mind you, the babysitter's house is in clear view of the back of the Police Department building.
I could hit the building with a rock from her front porch. I never thought something like this could happen there.
I've got more reservations about the whole situation, but I'm not going to get into it now. My brain is fried, and I'm not thinking very clearly, so I'm going to attempt sleeping for a while.
If anyone has any advice, or could assist me in some way at making sure something is done about this, I'd really appreciate it.
