scariest moment of my life

emriley84

I was just out doing some Christmas shopping with DS. He was getting antsy in the stroller, so I let him out in Barnes and Noble. I sat for a few minutes and let him play at the train table, then we walked over to where they had a lego table set up. he sat there and played. I look away for literally 5 seconds at a book I thought my niece might like, turn back, DS is no where to be found. I was nervous, but figured he went back to the train table, so I ran over there, again, no where to be found. I grabbed an employee and told her. They called a code Adam, asked me what he was wearing, etc. I stood there completely stunned. This is really happening. my kid is missing. The lady had to almost shake me get my attention. I started to lose it, and just then some older lady brought DS to me. I've never been so scared and embarassed in my whole life. The whole ordeal probably lasted 5 minutes or less, but felt like an eternity.

I'm so thankful to the quick response of the employees and customers to help me look for DS. But I feel like the biggest moron for letting it happen in the first place. I thanked everyone and left the store, mortified. Then sat in my car and cried for a good 10 minutes before I could even drive away. Holy sh!t. A moment of stupidity and I could've lost my kid. Wow. Lesson learned.

ridesbuttons

I've lost my 2 kids a total of 4 times over the years.  Once in a grocery store (found with the butcher), once in a hotel (hopped on an elevator just as the doors closed) and twice at a kiddie-level 'amusement' park.

Scary, scary stuff.  All 4 times it happened inside of 15 seconds.  Some (like the elevator one) was less than 2 seconds.

ETA: you know where I've never lost a kid?  Inside a locked car. 

ASmallWonder

I would have lost it too but don't beat yourself up.  They're fast little people and I've lost track of my son by looking down to zip my coat.  It's terrifying but I'm glad everything is ok!

Ms5586

I'm so glad everyone's ok!  Try not to beat yourself up too much about it, those kiddos are quick!

MJHershey

I would have gone mad! So happy that they found him.

Ms Adler

So scary! They are really good at getting away from you SO quickly. I'm so glad it turned out ok, don't be so hard on yourself! Being a mom is tough stuff.

RondackHiker

It happened to me, too. We were at a furniture store. DS was climbing in and out of a rocker. I looked at him, at a price tag, back at him, and he was gone. He'd gone around a corner, under a table, and was sitting in a partially opened cabinet.

And I'd just read the first chapter of a book about the real Adam and how he vanished and I feel you about the fear.

It's nothing to do with being attentive. They wander the wrong way in two seconds and it happens.

emriley84

Thank you ladies, it is hard not to beat yourself up, I know it happens but it was so scary.

LadyXaverian

Oh that is so scary. I'm sorry it happened, and I'm happier that he is perfectly ok.

kwitt22

It happens! I took DD to play at the mall play place I looked down to grab my coffee and saw DD taking off down the mall. The lady next me looked at me and said " How the hell did she get out there so fast!"

MissNikki007

How scary! I'm so sorry.

scoutkate

That must have been so scary!  I know it's just a matter of time before this happens to me.  It sounds like you did everything right to find him, and I'm so glad he was brought back to you safely!

myself1nme

I lost Keegan in Walgreens the other day.  He was holding on to the cart while I asked the cashier how much something was.  By time she had scanned it he was gone.  It seemed like an eternity even though it was probably on'y 2 min. total.  He had gone over to the cart return in the store and was playing with the other carts.  I was so relived!

mmdd20

How scary! I can't even imagine going through this. It sounds like both you and the store employee did exactly what needed to be done. I probably would have been a hysterical mess!

EVA116

That is so scary. Glad they found him so quick.

ppants

I'm so sorry that happened. I lost DS when he was 3. We were walking into DC and I was carrying DD and she dropped something. DS was walking ahead of us. I bent down to pick it up and he was gone. Long story short, he walked into the passcode door with another adult. Worst feeling in the world!

wino2006

It's such a sickening feeling. DD1 did that to me once at the zoo. I was leaning down to buckle DD2 in her stroller and when I stood up DD1 was gone. She had wandered down the path out of my view. I debated on heading towards the play area to look for her or going down the path heading the opposite direction. Fortunately I chose the path and found her. I lectured her the entire way to the car and the entire way home. She was 5. 

shopgirl78

We have had a few scares like that, I think these things just happen sometimes.  2 of our scares have been around water (yikes!) We were at at waterpark with grammie & she had my youngest in a submarine structure.  It had lots of opens and places to play.  I was with my older kids walking toward a slide when my DD stops and says, "I hear Jake crying."  I said, "Oh, he's over there with Grammie playing."  I saw my mom 20ish feet away and pointed for DD.  She didn't look concerned.   After a little more walking, we rounded a corner and bump into a lifeguard carrying my son (DS2).  He was fine but had managed to sneek out a hole and went toward the slide we were going too. The lifeguard said he was caught up in something, not sure if it was in the water.  He had a puddle jumper on tho.  Mom, came over frantic...but luckily, we were all together.

My 5 year old once ran off at Great Wolf lodge.  MH had went to the bathroom and I stayed behind with DD and DS1 (he had DS2) and DS1 decided he wanted to go to the bathroom and I sent him in (literally 10 feet away, close to where we were sitting) but I guess I didn't watch him all the way because he went to the kiddie part, not to the bathroom.  He can swim but we were freaking out when he came back on his own.  

LoveBeingAWife33008

So happy it turned out ok!