penguins and predators

We narrowly averted a crisis today.   One of our penguins invited a guest to visit. One of our most vulnerable penguins in the nest was persuaded to give money to the guest to facilitate an in-person visit.  Fortunately, our penguin causally mentioned the plan to me two evenings prior to full implementation of the said plan. The guest, however, was in suspect.  After alleged arrival at the local airport this morning, the suspect contacted our penguin asking for money for transportation, not bus fare, but a rental car for 2 weeks.  When she declined, the guest accused the penguin of leaving him stranded and suffering.  After a long talk, and many tears, our penguin acknowledged that it is suspect for an online acquaintance to fly from Atlanta, Georgia to visit her without sufficient funds for his own transportation, food, or shelter.  I advised her that rather than me rescuing her, she would need to use her own words to rescue herself.  I let her know that I was available to coach her, but she would need to pull herself out of the situation and end the "relationship".  As anticipated, the suspect continued to complain that the penguin had misused him, tricked him, was an evil---, etc, and yet, he asked for money "because they were in a relationship" and that is what people "in a relationship do for one another."   Ultimately, our penguin stood up for herself, asked for her money back, and "ended the relationship."  It took some persuasion to release expectations of a refund, but I believe she finally accepted the fact that she was not going to enjoy any sort of financial recovery.

It turned out to be financial exploitation under $100.00 but it could have been an entire paycheck or my worst fear, that it was an attempt at human trafficking of a vulnerable adult.  Our penguin, her father and me had a very clear conversation about the risks she had taken, and the possibility that the suspect intended to meet her at a hotel room, and that would be the last we would see of our penguin.  Our penguin wanted so badly to believe that the suspect was trustworthy "he is in the army" but ultimately understood that she had narrowly escape a potentially very dangerous situation.

As parents of vulnerable adults, it is terrifying to discover a predator has been invited to visit the creche.  Perhaps not the exact nest, but the definitely the colony. These repetitive intrusions occur in different ways with different predator species.  Sometimes it begins early, or occurs in quick succession, and frequently unanticipated turns.  Conflict resolution with one penguin, does not inform another penguin in a similar experience.  The preparations and drills necessary to vigilantly guard against conspirators can be wearying.  One victory seldom defends against additional threats. As parents, we know that younglings cannot forever remain in the creche, of necessity, each nestling must learn through their own experience to comprehend and develop necessary survival skills, even those with latent and faulty reasoning.

As a disciple of Christ, I understand the plan of salvation.  As a human, I understand survival of the fittest. As a mother, I want to nurture, as a teacher I want to educate, and as a fellow citizen I want to defend and protect. Eventually, both parent and child must release the tether.  Will we ever be ready?