When I was a little girl, my mother taught me a clever trick — to use a secret “code word” if I was ever in trouble and couldn’t speak freely. It was our way of silently calling for help.
Years later, as a parent myself, I passed that lesson on to my daughter, Lily. I imagined she’d use it to get out of uncomfortable sleepovers or awkward situations with friends. I never thought she’d need it for something serious — and certainly not so soon.
Yesterday started like any other day. I was at home, finishing up a cup of coffee, when my phone rang. It was my ex-husband, Mark. Though we tried to stay civil for Lily’s sake, things between us had been rocky since the divorce.
“Hey, Jenna,” he said, his voice oddly hesitant. “Lily wants to talk to you. She’s been asking since earlier.”
That caught me off guard. Lily rarely called during her weekends with her dad — she always looked forward to them. I immediately felt a flutter of concern. “Sure,” I said, masking my worry. “Put her on.”
“Hi, Mom!” Lily chirped. Her voice was upbeat, but something about her tone felt off — too rehearsed, too strained.
“Hey, sweetheart! How’s the weekend going? Having fun?”
“Yeah! We went to the park yesterday, and I drew a picture this morning. I drew a dog, a tree, and… I really wish I had a blueberry marker so I could make blueberries.”
Time stopped. That was it — the word.
“Blueberries” was our code word. The one that meant, “I need help. Come get me — now.” I felt the color drain from my face, but I kept my tone calm.
“That sounds nice, sweetie. I’ll come pick you up, okay? Let’s get ready for that thing tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she said quietly.
“You don’t have anything else to tell me, do you?”
“Nope. That’s all,” she replied, with a faint sigh.
“Alright, love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
I hung up, heart pounding, and grabbed my keys.
When I arrived at Mark’s place, I knocked on the door — and a stranger answered. A woman I didn’t recognize stood in the doorway with a stiff smile.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m here for Lily,” I said firmly. “Is Mark home?”
“He just stepped out to run errands,” she said coolly. “I’m Vanessa — Mark’s girlfriend.”
I blinked, caught off guard. Vanessa? Mark hadn’t mentioned anyone, let alone someone living with him. Still, I kept my cool.
“Well, Vanessa, I just remembered Lily has a doctor’s appointment early tomorrow. Totally slipped my mind to tell Mark. I need to take her home.”
She crossed her arms, clearly not buying it, but she stepped aside. “She’s inside.”
I walked in and saw Lily curled up on the couch with her coloring book. She glanced up, and when she saw me, her expression changed — the relief in her eyes was unmistakable.
“Ready to go, honey?” I asked gently.
She stood and walked to me without a word, clutching her book like a lifeline. Vanessa watched us leave but said nothing.
Once we were in the car, I looked over at my daughter. “Are you okay, baby?”
She nodded… then the tears started.
“Vanessa is mean,” she whispered between sobs. “She says I’m annoying when Daddy’s not around. She tells me not to talk. She said I should just stay in my room.”
My hands gripped the steering wheel. Rage surged inside me, but I forced myself to breathe.
“She said Daddy won’t believe me,” Lily continued. “She said I should keep quiet or I’d be in trouble.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” I said, pulling over and reaching for her hand. “You did exactly the right thing. I’m so proud of you. And you won’t ever have to see her again if you don’t want to. I promise.”
That night, once Lily was tucked in bed with her stuffed elephant, I called Mark.
He answered on the third ring. “Hey, Jenna. What happened? Vanessa said you came and took Lily?”
“Yes,” I said sharply. “And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Lily used our code word today.”
There was silence.
“Code word?” he finally asked.
“The word I taught her in case she ever felt unsafe. She said ‘blueberries,’ Mark. She used it because Vanessa’s been emotionally abusive to her when you’re not around.”
“…That can’t be right.”
“It is,” I said. “She was crying in the car. Telling me how Vanessa belittles her, isolates her. She’s afraid of her.”
He didn’t respond at first. Then: “I didn’t know. I’ll talk to her. I swear, I’ll deal with it.”
“Just remember, this isn’t about us,” I said. “It’s about Lily.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll fix it.”
After we hung up, I sat in silence, heart heavy — but grateful.
Grateful Lily had the tools to tell me something was wrong. Grateful I had taken the time to teach her that word.
Right then and there, I decided she was getting a phone. I had hesitated before — worried about screens and online dangers. But now? I saw how having a direct lifeline could make all the difference.
If you’re a parent, guardian, or someone who loves a child, I can’t recommend this enough: establish a code word.
Here’s what you should know:
1. Make it unique. Avoid words like “school,” “cake,” or colors that could pop up in everyday conversation. You don’t want false alarms.
2. Make it memorable. Phrases like “purple giraffe” or “jelly moon” are quirky and easy for kids to recall, especially under stress.
3. Practice. Role-play different scenarios so your child knows when and how to use it — whether they’re scared, uncomfortable, or in danger.
It’s such a small thing. But it can be the difference between silence and safety.
That one word — blueberries — gave my daughter a voice when she needed it most.
And for that, I will be forever thankful.