a word as she followed me out of the house. Lisa watched us leave, her eyes narrowing, but she didn’t stop us. Once we were in the car and driving away, I glanced over at my daughter.

“You okay, baby?” I asked gently.

At first, Amy nodded, but as the tension of the situation began to dissipate, she started to cry. She tried to speak between sobs. “Mom, Lisa… Lisa is mean to me when Dad isn’t around.”

“What do you mean, sweetie?” I asked, my heart breaking.

“She says things,” Amy continued, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“She says I’m annoying and that I shouldn’t be there. She told me that if I told Dad, he wouldn’t believe me because I’m just a kid. She said I should stay in my room and not bother them.”

The anger that flared inside me was almost blinding!

How dare this woman, who had no right to be in my daughter’s life, treat her this way? “Amy, you did the right thing by telling me. I’m so proud of you,” I said, striving to keep my voice calm.

“You don’t ever have to be around her again if you don’t want to. I’ll talk to your dad, and we’ll figure this out, okay?”

Amy nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “Okay, Mom.”

When we got home, I gave Amy a big hug and expressed how much I loved her.

Once she settled in her room with her favorite stuffed animal, I picked up my phone and called Dave. He answered on the third ring.

“Hey, Claire, did something happen? I just got home, and Lisa said you came by and took Amy?”

“Yes, something did happen,” I said, unable to hide the anger in my voice.

“Amy used our code word today, Dave. She wanted to leave because Lisa has been saying terrible things to her when you’re not around.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

“What? That can’t be right… Lisa wouldn’t—”

“She did, Dave.

Amy was in tears by the time we got in the car. She’s scared of your girlfriend, and she didn’t know how to tell you, so she told me the only way she could.”

“Claire, I’m sorry. I had no idea.

I’ll talk to Lisa. This isn’t acceptable.”

“No, it’s not,” I said, my voice softening. “But what’s more important is Amy.

She’s the one we need to be thinking about.”

“You’re right,” Dave said, sounding more defeated than I’d ever heard him. “I’ll handle it. I promise.”

After we hung up, I sat on the couch, feeling emotionally drained.

This wasn’t how I envisioned my weekend, but I was relieved that Amy felt safe enough to use our code word. It was a small thing, but it made all the difference. Then and there, I decided my little girl needed a phone.

I knew technology could be detrimental to her development, but I believed she could use it to text me, and it would come in handy.

As I reflected on everything that had happened, I realized how crucial it was for other parents to establish a similar plan. That code word provided my Amy a way to reach out without feeling exposed or vulnerable. It also allowed me to intervene before things escalated further.

However, the code word isn’t just about picking any random word; there are a few important rules to ensure you select a good “password.”

First, never use common words that might come up frequently in everyday conversation. You don’t want the word to be mentioned casually and cause unnecessary alarm. Words like “school,” “birthday,” or colors should be avoided since they are easy for others to guess.

Secondly, consider a phrase if your child is old enough to remember it. A short, memorable phrase or a combination of two words can add extra security. It should be something that wouldn’t be easily guessed by others but is still easy for your child to recall, such as “sunshine forest,” “dancing penguin,” or “blue apple.” It’s best to test it to ensure your child can remember it easily, even under different circumstances, like when they’re stressed or calm.

Rule number three is to role-play scenarios with your child.

Practice using the code word in various situations so they understand exactly when and how to use it. This will help them feel confident and prepared if they ever need to use it. Our experience served as a powerful reminder of how such a simple plan can make a significant difference.

By sharing our story, I hope more parents will consider creating a code word with their children. It might just be the tool they need in a critical moment.