Would you know how to defend yourself....
By cynddvs
@cynddvs (2948)
United States
October 23, 2007 10:54pm CST
If someone broke into your home while you were there would you know how to defend yourself?
Just last night I had a little scare. We've only been living in our house for a couple of weeks now so I'm still getting used to the new noises at night. Well last night I kept hearing something that seemed to be tapping at the glass to one of our doors. I got a little jumpy and ran around the house turning on all the lights. After that the noise went away so I figured it was just a small animal out there. Well just a little while after that I heard another tapping at our other door. I did the same thing and the noise went away. Then about an hour later after I went to bed I heard what I swore sounded like footsteps in my living room. My fiance wasn't home and I didn't hear his car pull in the driveway or the door open. And I went and checked on my daughter and she was sound asleep. So paranoid little me grabs my cell phone in one hand with 911 ready to dial and a large knife in the other (probably not the smartest move I know). I close my daughter room and start turning on all the lights and checking each room and closet one by one. Of course I found nothing. So either my house is haunted or I was just losing my mind last night.
So would you know what to do if someone broke into your house while you were there? After going through my little spell of paranoia last night and being scared out of my mind I'm seriously thinking about taking some sort of class or seminar about what to do in a worst case scenario so I'm prepared.
4 people like this
16 responses
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
24 Oct 07
I would recommend taking a self defense class of some sort. Maybe get your daughter involved in the classes also. Don't know what the minimum age is for kids but it would be worth getting information.
I have a softball bat in the house and would use that as self defense if I had the chance to swing. (My husband is a coach and we always have items such as a bat laying around the house.) Every now and then I have a golf club in the house too. Depends on what I've been doing. One good swing is all it takes and don't have to run the risk of going downstairs 7 steps to the kitchen area to get a knife. My best protection: our dog, cat and a burglar alarm.
2 people like this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
24 Oct 07
Could be a lil of both. I know I have my dad's spirit watching over me and 2 of my dogs', father/son, are also watching over me. In fact, I still feel them doing their classic turn-in-circles-before-laying-down on my bed most nights. A lil Paranoia is healthy anyways. If your not scared of anything then that's when something will get ya good. Just give it some time to get used to your new surroundings is all. Specially if you move from the noisy city to quiet country life where every lil noise sounds like the boogyman is out to get ya when it's just an animal rustling around outside.
2 people like this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
24 Oct 07
Forgot to add that our dog, Domingo, took a longggggg time to get used to our country/woods surroundings cause he came from the city. He's an awesome 1st line of defense cause unless they get him 1st, they are in for alot of pain.
2 people like this
@hoghoney (3747)
• United States
24 Oct 07
New homes can play tricks with you mind and new sounds. I would be prrepared if someone broke into my home while I was there. They would have a very rude awakening coming to them when my boyfriend or me for that fact gets ahold of them they better pray to god they are prepared to run into us. I would not have a knife but what I would have will be bigger.
2 people like this
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
24 Oct 07
Unless they came in shooting, I've got a couple of dogs that would give me enough time to get the baseball bat. I wouldn't go for a knife because I would be afraid I would hurt myself. I have at least one phone in every room as well, so I would be calling the cops immediately as well.
2 people like this
@braveheart07 (2601)
• Philippines
25 Oct 07
I am trying to learn about martial arts and I want to be well trained with this.
I think this would be of great advantage to us for self-defense.
Have a nice day!
2 people like this
@citygirl (1080)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
What a scare huh. I have lived alone with my kids for many years, now they are all grown and I only have one left at home, but she is rarely home. I keep a baseball bat in my bedroom and another by the door my cell phone is handy always. I think a bat gives you swinging distance to keep some one away from you, where as a knife they could get it from you and use it on you. I am betting on keeping the intruder far enough away for me to push the button to activate 911. If your nervous why not think about getting a dog they scare off intruders as well. Good luck and all the best to you.
@southernpixie (741)
• United States
24 Oct 07
My husband took martial arts for a long time (I can't remember what belts he has though LOL) He has shown me some moves and how to get out of certain holds. But I still get scared when I'm here by myself and I hear something outside. I probably would have done the same thing you did lol.
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
25 Oct 07
Hi cynddvs! Now that I am thinking about it, I really wouldn't know how to react on situations like that. I may have a bat beside my bed but would I be strong and brave enough to strike at my attacker? What if I can't calm my nerves and just shake all over and juts pray that i wouldn't be seen? I think I should be thinking more about this and have to act on it, the sooner the better because we will never know what may befall us somehow ven in the safety of our homes. Thanks for this enlightenment and maaking me somehow be aware of things like this. Take care and have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@animegirl334 (3263)
• United States
25 Oct 07
I'll be really scared. Probably lock myself in the closet after dialing 911
@phoenix25 (1541)
• United States
10 Jul 08
It could have just been a bug tapping at your window. I used to get freaked out like that. Not so much anymore. If someone did try to come in my house, I would probably figure something out. I would grab whatever I could use as a weapon and call 911 if possible. Sometimes I think about what I would do and I'm sure I could think of something. You just never know where you're going to be and what the situation will be if something like that happens, so it's hard to plan ahead exactly.
@lordofdarkness (163)
• Malaysia
10 Jul 08
someone tried breaking into my house two years ago. my dad and i wnt after him with a machete.
dude ran away and never came back
of course we werent planning to use it unless he had a knife or something
@mychattime (1013)
•
9 Jul 08
I'll be honest I wouldn'tknow, well I know a few basic moves but would probably panic and freeze if anything actually happened! The other year we were at my in laws in Turkey and they thought they'd been broken into so asked me to go round the rooms, I was so scared but my son insisted on coming with me, he was about 3! He opened the doors shouting hello and all the time I was thinking what do I do if I see someone, I'm in a different country and was actually really scared not just for me but for my fearless son! The problem I would have is where I live you have to be careful what you do to people or I could end up getting done for it! Where I live is crazy and they really do need to sort the law out and protect those who need it not those that are causing the trouble!
Oh by the way everyone gets paranoid now and then, my dog started barking the other week when my hubby was away and I was a little nervous not sure what she was barking at think she was just trying to worry me LOL!
