When I was a little girl, my mother taught me how to use a code word if I ever needed help but couldn’t speak up. As an adult, I taught this method to my daughter, Amy, never imagining she would need it so soon.

One evening, my ex-husband Dave called. Amy, usually enjoying her time with him, asked to speak with me. Her cheerful tone was off, and in the middle of our conversation, she dropped our code word: “blueberries.” My heart raced. This word meant she needed to get out of a situation immediately.

I rushed to Dave’s house, where I met his girlfriend, Lisa, whom Amy had never mentioned. Inside, I found Amy, who revealed Lisa had been mean to her when Dave wasn’t around. Amy was scared and didn’t know how to tell her dad. I quickly took her home.

After calling Dave and sharing what had happened, he promised to handle it. This experience showed me the power of a simple code word. It’s crucial for parents to have a plan like this to protect their children in critical moments.