So. Let me tell you about something that happened to me today. I was upstairs looking out the window at about 9.30. It is cold here in Melbourne… It was probably about ten degrees at the time (it’s thirteen degrees in Fitzroy now, according to The Age). We live over the road from the Housing Commission flats and there is a playground directly opposite us. Lots of really great families and people live in those flats. In the Summer and after school the playground is a hive of activity. Those families and people are often out and about doing good stuff and hanging out in the neighbourhood. This morning there was a child sitting on the swings. He was alone. There was no one else in the playground. He was wearing a parka and shorts. I could see from my window that he had no shoes on.
He was swinging backwards and forwards, just a titch, with his head down, trailing his bare feet through the tan bark. Hmm. I watched him for a little while, made some tea, did a few things and came downstairs. It was about 10.15 now. I looked out my downstairs shop window. He was still there, swinging and trailing. So I got my keys, stepped outside, locked my door and walked over to the playground. I walked up to him slowly, from the front. I said ‘Hey! I live over there, and I noticed you were here by yourself. Are you okay?’ He said ‘Yes.’ I said ‘Are you sure you are okay, because it’s pretty cold and you don’t have any shoes on.’ He said ‘I’m okay.’ I reckon he was about 12. I said ‘See that building over there, number 63? That’s where I live. If you need anything at all or any help, just come and see me’. He looked down at his mobile phone, and then back up at me. ‘Okay. Thanks.’ He said.
So I walked away. As I walked away I could see a police car pull up a bit further down the street. The policemen were moving along some drunk blokes. I walked inside and shut the door. I looked out the window and the boy was still swinging. Hmm. Gulp. Worry. I went back out and walked down the street to let the policemen know about the boy and the worry and the cold feet. They said they’d go and have a chat to him.
A few minutes later, I saw them approach the boy, who was obviously a bit nervous about this. He backed away a bit. They all chatted for a while. Then the policemen (keeping their distance and in a very non threatening and pal-like way) slowly walked the boy back towards the flats. And that is where it ends.
I don’t really know why he was in the park, or what had happened, or where his shoes were. I don’t know why he wasn’t at school, but he seemed like a great kid. Really sweet and polite too. The police left about 20 minutes later, without the boy, so I am thinking they sorted things out.
I feel a bit sad that the boy had to be escorted back home by the police. And I think it would have been a bit scary and embarrassing for him. Policeman can seem very scary when they are approaching, even to an adult. But I felt it would be wrong not to get involved. I wanted to be sure that someone was looking out for that good kid. I wish I could have given him a bit of a squeeze and a cup of tea… and some socks… without seeming like a weirdo lady. I wish I could have sorted his problem out for him, without having to get the boys in blue to help. But sometimes those things are not possible…
What would you have done? Would you get involved?
xx Pip
Hi Beck!
I just got home and went straight over and looked at both the playgrounds. They had just raked all the tan bark, and there was no rubbish and it was all clean and there was not doggy!
I am so sorry! I wish I had been at home when you left the comment, because I might have been able to rescue it! Argh! So sorry!
xx pip
My little girl just left her toy dog in the park opposite your shop. Is there Any chance you could g
Pop over and rescue her? We could pick her up later today, thanks so much if possible x
Brilliant work Pip, exactly the right thing to do, to get involved and care about someone. I'm almost in tears this was so nice of you. And you've inspired me to make sure I look out for others a little more.
I love that you let that boy see the world has people who care in it. That he is not invisible – maybe he'll visit you someday. Whatever happens you reached out and that is an admirable quality. I wish you lived across the road from me. Thanks for the inspiration Pip.
This situation is rather close to home (from the police end) for me, but there's nothing here to say he wasn't being a kid and just wanted to go out playing.
I'm 31 and when I'm interested in playing games I'll be a boy and not wash, not dress well or eat well just to get to what I want to do.
Yes, he didn't have shoes on, but who knows why? Keep in mind he's a kid and may not reason the same. Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with what you did at all, you did way more than you had to, and sometimes what we ourselves want for people is different from what we want and need. It's good that you care and did something.
Involving the police in this way is completely normal and happens all the time. They often check on people every day.
Hi Pip,
I would have done the same thing. Good on you for caring.This made me feel like crying too. One because i wonder why a young boy was there with no shoes,alone on a cold winter morning and two because of your obviously kind heart.Love Karen.
No man is an island as John Donne said
If there were more people like you Pip, in this world of ours today, what a different world it would be. I hate that alot of the time people look the other way… If it had been me I would have done exactly the same thing, better safe than sorry. That young boy now knows that somebody is watching out for him, you never know he may just come knock on your door. I admire you.
x
You did the right thing Pip. There is a level of neglect going on, for a little guy to be out on a cold morning in shorts and bare feet. Hopefully the Police bringing him back indoors will make his carer more aware that it is not going unnoticed by the community. And that perhaps the person responsible for this child will feel good about knowing that people care enough to bring him home. Hope the person responsible for trying to care for him gets the help and support they need. x
wel done ! Maybe iot was nothing, but perhaps there was something wrong and you helped him a lot. Don't feel afraid that you might have done something wrong : you didn't
Oh Pip, I can't really explain why but that made me get a little bit teary. Just thinking of those poor cold little feet… I always fret about strangers and worry when I see people looking sad or alone or worried. Like you, I always wish there was something I could do to make it all better. You did the right thing. You are such a lovely lady. Much love xoxo
im a little concerned about the police involvement here.
What if that child was trying to get away from someone / something and the presence of the police pushed him into going back to whatever it was he had just run away from.
WOuld a young child really dob on their parents (or whoever may have hurt them or worried them) to a stranger / police if something was happening??
I have a mixed view about this, I understand what you did was helpful, but i just hope that the police presence was helpful and didnt send this child back into a situation he may have been trying to run from…
just my 2 cents.
The world is a better place for people like you who step out for the kindness of mankind…I would like to think I would do exactly the same.
You, dear heart, are a good woman. You did the right thing xxx
Pip, I saw how worried you were this morning. You absolutely did the right thing and were right to feel scared for the lovely boy and want him to be safe. Lets hope he has a better start to his day tomorrow and maybe he'll come across the road and say hello one day. Xg
I think you did the right thing. It may be a big city, but that's your community and it's nice to know people look out for each other. x
You definitely did the right thing. I would have done exactly the same.
I would have done the same Pip. The police wouldn't have walked him home if they too thought it was all hunky dory.
Im not sure. If it was freezing & he had no shoes & should have been in school maybe, but he did have a phone & maybe he was just visiting & didn't go to a local school. I think it was very generous of you & also brave to offer your help to him. I hope he remembers your gesture of kindness!! x
I think you did the right thing. If he was wagging, his mum may not even have known. And she may not have known about the bare feet too. Young kids can be so reckless about that kind of thing.
My daughter was in your shop last week. She's the one who wants to be an architect. She said you were lovely. She bought a cardigan I think.
This left me very thoughtful. I think it was a wonderful to look after that boy like you did. I don't know if I'd had the courage to do the same 🙁 From now on I will.
Hopefully you made a new friend today. I think you did the right thing. I would have done the same. Children are children no matter where you are, and its awfully cold in Melbourne at the moment.
*Hugs* to you.
I think you did the right thing too. I guess you never know the story that led up to that moment. Maybe his Mum yelled "Put on some shoes!" as he went out the door, but probably not. (I am always yelling about shoes at my house.) I wonder if you will ever see him again. Can you tell us if you do? Good on ya Pip!
I admire you so much for doing that! Thank god there are such wonderful people in this worlld and I can only hope I would do the same.
Good on you, Pip – you did the right thing. x
Good on you, Pip – you did the right thing. x
Sure I would have…you did the right thing.
I've always been a bit shy and the sort of person who stands back and lets others take control or sort things out, but just lately I have decided to be the one to "get involved!" or to "speak up!" (but not in a busy-body way, because that is not nice) rather than sit back and let things take their course.
And I definately feel better for doing so…and I really hope the people who are affected by my speaking up and getting involved do too…it seems a pretty positive thing so far. You know Pip, I'm sure you made a difference to that boy – even if he's in a situation where he feels he has noone else to turn to, I'm sure he won't ever forget your kindness.
Good on you Pip! I think that was the good and right thing to do. I'm sure it meant a lot to that kid to have someone notice him and be worried for him. I have no doubt that would've made a huge difference for him, no matter what his circumstances.
Oh gulp, that makes my heart break. As someone who would have dearly loved to have a family, I just want to cry every time I see something like that.
I'm so glad that you went and checked on him, and I'm sure he'll remember your kind words, and come and knock on your door if he ever does need help.
Hello lovely Pip
I listen to my heart, and trust my instinct when faced with a choice like this. And yes, I would have got involved.
I am working in community development at the moment, and I have been shocked and awed by the compassion and wisdom that some police have for little ones just like your beautiful barefoot boy.
The little one might just have been waiting for someone to notice him. You did, and so did the police who took him home.
There's a lot of love on this crazy planet!
X Katrina
I totally would have got involved. I, like you, am like that. Poor luv. As a confused, sad and angry young teen, I remember wagging school and walking to a local park and sitting there angsting and crying and hating everything…nobody came up to me, I wish they had. Good on you Pip.
I think being a person somewhere in between adulthood and childhood must have to be the most difficult and confusing time of all. Big emotions, big understandings and big stuff going on all around you, but you are almost always treated like a kid still. I think what you did would be what I would hope for somone to do if it were one of mine sitting there. Thank you for showing him that you care and that you noticed and that he has options.
I would have done the same as you, Pip. Good job!
You know, we just cannot switch off being 'mothers'…not at 30 or 80. Our communities are becoming bigger and wider and also closing…its people like you and probably most if not all of your readers that would have done the same thing….reaching out, trying to bring a community closer, like the 'old days'…..dont stop trying to reach out dear readers….little tokens or gestures like this have a massive ripple effect…and my husband is a proud policeman….trying to keep his community together, reaching out….thats what he does…all day…everyday!
love your work, Pip!
I think you did the right thing. Policemen can be a bit intimidating, but they can also be friendly and lovely are they are there to be looking out for people who might need a helping hand. Hopefully the boy could see them in that friendly, helpful sort of way. It was very kind of you to offer to help the boy and I think showing kindness is always a very, very good thing.
I am glad you checked on the kid. Yes, police can be scary- but on the other hand, this is a good police interaction (kid wasn't in trouble, and in case something is wrong in the household, it is now on the police radar and hopefully the kid is a little less afraid of the police).
I would do the same thing. It is really important to check on people to make sure they are ok- otherwise who will?
I also would bring socks and offer them! I am ok as coming off as weird. My friends are horrified sometimes that I will give people my leftovers (when they ask- how can I not if someone is hungry enough to ask for food?)
I have the same thoughts every other day. We live right between a really fancy neighbourhood and a really bad neigbourhood in Perth. We do what we can but we cant help them all.
Yup, agree with the other people here – I couldn't watch a poor kid on his own like that and not approach him and ask him if he's OK. Not sure I would have told the police, unless it was quite a young child, but I totally understand why you did (I would think twice only because of the intimidation factor).
Definitely the right thing to do though – it's just human compassion and kindness to ask someone if they are ok if they seem like they're not, especially a kid.
I think you've given that child a small emotional security blanket. He may think he'll never take you up on the offer but at the same time he has the knowledge that he can always knock on your door if he needs to. I definitely think you did the right thing.
I think you did the right thing. I hope that I would get involved if faced with a similar problem. I taught littlies for a long time and I always told them that if they were lost or in some kind of trouble it would be a good idea to go into a shop and ask for help there. It can be hard even as an adult to ask for help, yes, you did the right thing. I am sure of it now Hopefully the little boy is ok and warm now.
Without knowing what his situation is, what you did was an awesome thing.
As a Mum, I think it's nice to know that there are special people (like you!) who might be keeping a concerned watch out for my kids – whether they need it or not.
And for that kid, you may have been the little bit of love he needed on an otherwise really yucky day.
Props to you lady xx
Man, that is a tricky situation but i think you did the right thing. I would not have been able to walk away without doing anything either. I hope he finds some shoes. x
Wow. Getting involved was a very admirable decision. I would like to think I would have too but who knows. Good day, love to you.
Yes, I would have done the same as you Pip. It is being a kind person, a mother, a neighbor. If something had happened you would never forgive yourself.
You did the right thing.
Kate
x