Which one's a grandfatherly guy, and which one's a pedophile?
Maybe I'm a paranoid mom, but I consider any adult male whom I've just met, who spends more than 10 minutes chatting with my young daughter, to be a pedophile.
End of story.
If I'm wrong, so be it. But if I'm right, I've helped prevent something horrible from happening.
This weekend we were at a cute waterfront Inn in Jensen Beach, and a friendly guy was hovering a little too closely to my daughter in the swimming pool. It was 9 a.m. or so, and he was already drinking a beer. At that hour, I don't even think the idea of "it's 5 o'clock somewhere'' applies.
My sister called my daughter back to the room and reminded her not to be alone with strangers.
"Dan is not a stranger!'' was her response.
After that I mentally branded Dan as a pervert, and kept her away from him. Is this fair? Maybe not. Some men like little kids, right?
My sister has a neighbor who is an older gentleman, and he's shown a lot of interest in her young son. He recently offered to babysit. I told her the guy is a pedophile. Obviously!
How do you know who is safe and who's not? For starters, in your own neighborhood you can check regularly for registered sex offenders. Click here to do so now. You can also sign up there to get an e-mail alert if a registered offender moves into your neighborhood.
I might note that there are two in my neighborhood, and another 80 in Broward County who are listed as "absconded'' or not yet registered. With photographs.
This list I found offers Eleven Ways to Spot a Pedophile. It has some interesting insights on it, such as noting that something might be amiss if an adult man decorates his home with cartoon characters.
The writer ends by saying, "Don’t look for proof that your instincts are right or wrong. Trust them. They are always right."
Read the jump page for a proposed children's book text one reader sent me, on this issue.
A reader who wished to remain anonymous sent this children's book (unpublished) she wrote. Print it out if you think it's appropriate to read to your little one.
"When Danger is not a Stranger."Mommy always says “Never talk to strangers.”
Even when they offer you candy
Or say they need help to find a lost puppy.
Or they say “your parents told me to pick you up.”
She told me to run, as fast as I can.
And scream as loud as I can.
Mommy always tries to keep me safe.
But today, Mommy’s friend touched me in my private place.
He said to keep it our secret
Mommy never told me what to do,
When the person who does bad things,
Is someone I love, and trust.
I was scared.
I didn’t want Mommy to be upset.
So I thought about it.
I thought all during my favorite TV show.
I thought about it when I ate dinner and my favorite chocolate cake.
I knew what I should do.
I waited until Mommy and I were alone,
And I told her, when she leaned in to kiss me good night.
I knew then that everything would be all right.
Mommy always tries to keep me safe.
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work.
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Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 15, and Lily, 7, and is married to a journalist, Bob Norman. She covers Broward County government, which is filled with almost as much drama as the Norman household. Almost.
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Kyara Lomer Camarena has a 2-year-old son, Copelan, and a brand new baby. 
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