Did that title make you cringe? Picture this: your five-year-old daughter returns home from school, excitedly revealing that she has a “secret tickling game” with a 12-year-old on the school bus. It was a terrifying moment for me, prompting me to team up with Senator Mark Thompson to advocate for a new law concerning school bus surveillance footage.
In August 2019, my daughter was bubbling with excitement as she embarked on her kindergarten journey. Having previously attended preschool at the same school, her enthusiasm was primarily about finally riding the school bus. Coming from a small rural town where I rode the bus myself, I didn’t see any harm in it. It would certainly ease my responsibilities, especially with two younger children at home. Her excitement was so infectious that I couldn’t say no.
As she began her school days and bus rides, she was over the moon. Every afternoon, she hopped off the bus, eager to share tales of her day and her new friend on the bus. Yet, I never thought to inquire about her friend’s age.
Daily, she recounted stories about this friend. However, the bus had tinted windows, obscuring my view of her seating arrangement. I instructed her to sit at the front, trusting that both she and the bus driver would adhere to that guideline. I assumed she was safe, as larger kids usually kept to the back.
Then one day in September, just weeks into kindergarten, everything changed. I asked her how her day went and how the bus ride was, but I noticed her body stiffen. Her expression was one of guilt, like she had been caught in a lie. When I pressed her further, she began to cry, saying she thought she was in trouble.
Confused, I reassured her that she wasn’t in trouble and asked if something had happened. After hesitation, she revealed that her “friend” had instructed her not to disclose their “secret tickling game.” My stomach dropped. I was taken aback and felt a wave of panic wash over me. Surely, this must be a misunderstanding—kids tickle each other all the time, right? But her demeanor suggested otherwise.
We spent the next several minutes discussing what this “secret tickling game” involved. I was immensely grateful that I had taught my daughter the proper names for her body parts, as I could directly ask, “Did your friend touch your private area?” Thankfully, she clarified that the friend had not touched her inappropriately, which provided some relief. Yet, I wondered why her friend had insisted on secrecy. Something felt off.
I soon learned that my daughter had been sitting in the back of the bus with this friend, who was 12 years old. Alarmed, I immediately contacted the principal, expressing my concerns, and arranged a meeting for the following morning.
At our meeting, the school administrators understood my worries and acknowledged the potential danger of a 12-year-old making such statements to a younger child. They assured me they would look into the incident and call me back. When I inquired about the availability of bus surveillance footage, I was told it was not accessible to me, which troubled me deeply. My child could have been in a compromising situation, yet I was denied the right to view the footage.
The more I contemplated the situation, the more unsettled I became. What should I do if something had indeed occurred? I called the local sheriff’s office but was met with indifference; they stated no crime had been committed, which left me livid. I felt my concerns were dismissed, and I was just trying to ascertain the truth.
After several frustrating calls, including one to a local lawyer who advised me to contact child services, I filed a report with them. However, they decided not to investigate, claiming my daughter’s age meant she wouldn’t have kept such a secret if something had happened. Their dismissive attitude only fueled my anger; I knew that abuse doesn’t always come with clear signs.
Determined, I ventured to the bus garage to gather more information. I discovered that the bus driver involved had either quit or been fired on the same day I reported the incident, which struck me as odd. I also learned that the bus had been pulled over for issues unrelated to my concerns, but parents should have been informed of any incidents involving their children.
As the day progressed, my anxiety intensified. I decided to reach out to the school again, only to find out that they were waiting until after homecoming weekend to investigate further. This seemed absurd to me; the safety of my child should take precedence over school festivities.
Fortunately, the school resource officer took my concerns seriously and reviewed the video footage from the day my daughter spoke up. While he didn’t find anything alarming that day, I insisted he check previous footage, as a couple of months of bus rides could hold vital information. Unfortunately, he later informed me that the Department of Child Services would not investigate, citing the ages of the children involved.
The superintendent expressed his anger over the situation and stated they would improve oversight on the bus. While I was relieved to hear changes might come, I could not allow my daughter to ride that bus again. The complications continued, as I learned that the sheriff’s office would need to issue a subpoena for any further investigation, a process that seemed almost impossible given the lack of support.
This harrowing experience led to my realization about the importance of advocating for children’s safety, especially in environments they should feel secure in. For more on related topics, check out our blog post at Home Insemination Kit, which discusses important safety measures for children. Additionally, for expert guidance, you can visit Intracervical Insemination or explore Healthline for valuable resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
This story recounts a mother’s shocking discovery of her young daughter’s “secret tickling game” with an older child on the bus, prompting her to advocate for new laws regarding school bus video surveillance. The mother’s determination to protect her daughter led her through a frustrating and emotional journey involving school officials, law enforcement, and child services, ultimately highlighting the need for better safety protocols for children.