Houston - We Have a Problem!!!!!

Scary incident yesterday.  I was home with my youngest and it was a beautiful, warm day.  The garage was open because I just got in from running errands.  I am in the middle of changing clothes over for the kids and he's doing some homework before he can go out and play.  I'm upstairs and he's downstairs.  The doorbell rang and thank goodness I had just looked out the window.  It was a man going around the neighborhood for something.  I never open the door to anyone unless they are expected or my husband is home (he wasn't).  My children always run for the door because it's their friends 99% of the time.  We live in a small development (22 houses and secluded).  You don't worry about the kids running around the development.  Neighborhood friends come in and out in all of our houses. 

Anyway, as soon as the bell rang I ran for the stairs and yelled for him not to open the door - it was someone we don't know.  He didn't and ran up the stairs, a little scared since I had adamently told him not to open the door.  "Why, what's going on?"  "It's a stranger, and we don't open the door to strangers."  He watched the man from the upstairs window and started in on me.  "He looks nice, just open the door if he comes back."  "No, he's a stranger."  "What's the big deal?"  Are you kidding me??????????

I spent the next few minutes explaining that dangerous people usually look nice and that's how they gain your trust.  After having a lengthy conversation he still said we should answer the door.  We've gone over this stuff so many times, I am flabergasted that he's still questioning it.  He agreed that if he was home alone or with his brothers, they wouldn't open the door, but he doesn't quite comprehend why I wouldn't open it on a beautiful day since I'm the parent.  I'll keep trying to explain it without making him paranoid.  Boy did I learn a lesson.

NeuroticMom