I had grand plans to post about how awesome, thought-provoking, and decadent my long weekend was, but instead I'll blournal about today....when I lost my kid.
I was in a play area in a mall I wasn't familiar with, chatting with two lovely ladies I don't usually see, and honestly, I was pretty proud of myself. This helicopter mama was letting her 2-year-old Big Star have free roam of the enclosed play area (a tree with lots of tunnels and slides and secret rooms). He would come check in with me and I would check in with him. He was happy, I was happy--good times had by all. But as silly as it sounds, suddenly I just had a feeling, and went to check on my kid. And he wasn't to be found amongst the 20+ kids and adults in that enclosed area.
HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP
Only in my head, and possibly out loud, I wasn't saying "crap."
And in that moment, I heard a woman from outside the play area yelling "does this child belong to someone?"
Turns out my Big Star had figured out how to open the only door in the play area and taken off down the mall. Like, seriously down the mall. A grandma had chased him down and was dragging him back as her daughter tried to figure out who the little Korean escape artist belonged to.
That would be me, the mortified mama who wasn't sure whether to scream or cry and was almost definitely in shock.
What would have happened had that grandma not made the call to chase my kid down (and he is a fast little sucker, especially in open spaces) and manhandle him back to the play area? He was apparently almost to a corner and could have turned either way. He is fast and fearless and tiny....and mine to keep safe.
I tried to play it cool since it was my fault ultimately for not keeping a closer eye on him and not parking my behind right next to the door, and we just moved to a position right near the door to better watch him as he continued to escape. Which he did, over and over, with his little trademark smirk that melted my frustrated heart and made me sick to think of all the what ifs.
So that's my lesson. In a blink of an eye your child could be gone, gone, gone. So barricade those doors and practice your death glares before returning to the mall play area.
It's either that or the monkey leash.
He is a fast little guy! I still remember that sneaky way he kept inching to the door (which I agree with you needs to have a LATCH on!)...trying to make another attempt at an escape! Was good seeing you though! =)
ReplyDeleteThere was a time in Miles' life when the monkey leash was a VERY REAL possibility. Luckily he eventually stopped running....so I bet Big Star will too. :) Until then....wear running shoes and pray for wonderful strangers.
ReplyDeleteHow scary!!!!! Seriously, it is times like that that you DO realize the monkey leash is no joke and I will never judge others for it. Thank God for that grandma!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! How scary!! Thankfully Big Star didn't get very far. You know I have the same challenge with Joel, so I get it. Sometimes a monkey leash would sure be nice!
ReplyDeleteI was sweating, my heart was racing, and I had a pit in my stomach reading this... So terribly scary! S is fast too, and there have been a few times in the store (when I can't handle the in-the-cart-whining anymore) that S has gone *poof* ... it's terrifying. Thank goodness there were no what-ifs!
ReplyDeletei had to come back and comment on this because, dude, you really kept your cool during this! i would have been flipping out, and not just on the inside. and seriously, your littlest dude is FAST! and truly, it could have happened to any of us...i'm with grace, that door needs a latch! yup, i so don't judge the monkey leashes anymore. ;)
ReplyDeletethanks again for hanging out with us! :)