The dirty trick my sister played on me to teach me a lesson about internet safety should have come as no great surprise. Even before either of us had kids we’ve been equally disgusted with the idea of a stranger abducting an innocent child. How dare any person lay a finger on a child who does not belong to them.
I cried when Elizabeth Smart was abducted and later found and my sister, who was continents away following the same story cried along with me. The women in my family are a bunch of scaredy cats and I have no idea why, but it’s turned us into a handful of paranoid mothers.
I’m convinced that the moment I turn my back on my kids in the grocery store some crazy man is going to snatch them right up. I mean who WOULDN’T want my kids!?! They’re gorgeous.
Because I said so.
I avoid the news or reading books or watching movies that have anything to do with abduction because I’d rather work on alleviating that fear than continue to feed it. Which is also why I continue to blog.
Last night Pat and I took the kids to the fair.
I led the troops at the front of the line and Pat followed from behind with Kainoa in the stroller. I made a quick turn to my right and cut between a couple booths to get to where we wanted to go. We stopped and looked at bubbles. Kainoa laughed.
I turned to continue and counted heads quickly before carrying on.
No Laina.
She was right there and then gone. It couldn’t have been more than thirty seconds that she wasn’t with us, but still my mind flashed to the worst case scenario. With so many people packed into the fair someone could have easily grabbed her and carried her away.
I darted back between the booths and looked exactly like a frantic mother would look while calling her name. And guess what? The best thing ever happened. A group of about five adults with arms filled with corn on the cob and cotton candy and fair souvenirs quickly spotted me and pointed to my little girl who looked exactly like a little lost puppy.
They explained that they had noticed her instantly without a parent and were watching her to make sure she was okay. I thanked them profusely while taking my little girl’s hand and as they walked away I heard them talking about, “isn’t that just the worst feeling when you lose sight of a little one!?!”
I could have hugged them. Just random strangers watching over MY child to see that she was taken care of. No crazy man swiping her away. Just regular old good people. I forgot they were out here with me!
I think I needed that reminder.
Erin says
Come on admit it, there are those time when they are tantruming in the store that you are begging people to take your kids! Oh wait, that’s just me?
But on a serious note, that is really nice they were looking out for your little girl!
Alex says
I worked in a theme park for years and would constantly spot little lost kids. We would always have the staff watch over them in a place close to where they lost their parents. Re-unions were always touching…even if they were only lost for a few minutes.
But do you know what I think was the stupidest invention ever? Hats with your kids names on them. Kids always assume that if you know their name that you are a ‘friend’. Even though it’s right there on their head. Best advice I can ever give parents is not to buy that stuff.
Laura says
Probably paranoid of me, but every time we go on a day trip I take a picture of Georgia and store it on my camera. I try to play it off like it’s for my scrapbook, but there’s more to it. If she gets lost, I have a photo of exactly what she was wearing, and people can see what she looks like. I have nightmares about losing her in a public place – and she’s everyone’s new best friend, so I don’t know that someone would have to work hard to convince G to walk off with them. ::shuddering::
Jen says
It is always good to be reminded that even though there is bad in the world, there is good in it too.
We are constantly fed the bad, that is way it is so important to hang onto and tell about the good.
Mariposa says
Oh, gosh! I would have been in a panic! I’m glad you were blessed with this reminder that there are still good people in the world. Blessings on your day! :)
erin says
I am a paranpoid momma too…….thank goodness for the kind hearted.
Jennifer says
I do the same thing Laura does with the picture as we are leaving. Also if we are going somewhere really busy then I’ll write my phone number somewhere on their body where it is hid by clothes. Bud is too little to memorize it and I just haven’t pushed it on Baby Girl enough.
Jaci says
LOVE this post.
I think we moms all need to be reminded that for every 1 creepy kid snatcher, there are hundreds of normal people. And if you’re a parent, you’re going to notice the lost kid…the kid in distress…the one who needs help.
Scargosun says
I have done the same thing for kids that look a little confused in a public place (and animals). I don’t want to freak the child out so I don’t go up to them but make sure if someone comes up to them, that it looks like a parent. I can’t imagine how scary it is when you are missing your child, even for a moment.
Cyrene says
Thank goodness that kind strangers still exist in the world today! Sometimes it is very hard to focus on that with all the negativity and horror happening around us.
SaucyB says
My greatest fear on the planet is someone taking my child, so I really identified with your post. It is nice to know though that good people still exist out there.
Kelly says
Whenever I see a solo munchkin I watch until I see the adult they are with… I got lost at the fair when I was little and I remember how bad it was until someone was nice enough to help me find my parents….
Emmy says
So glad she was okay! And yes most people really are good.
Shell says
I am totally paranoid about things like this. A parking lot can even give me a heart attack. Because it’s not like it’s quick to get 3 kids loaded into the van, expecially if we have extra stuff from wherever we were. I panic thinking about someone taking one of them when we are so vulnerable.
liz says
such a huge sweep of emotions…sheer panic to overwhelming relief!
Foursons says
I have so been there. The terror that immediately fills your heart is horrible. So glad she was OK and thank goodness for parent’s who understand.
Heligirl says
That is my deepest and worst fear (having a child taken from me) so I’m always vigilant in public. Hubby makes fun of me over it all the time, “That’s the positive and sunny woman I know and love.” The boob. I don’t know if I could even survive something happening to one of my babies. I’d have to be committed and under suicide watch. I’m so glad you had other good parents keeping an eye out. I sometimes forget that others are out there that will look out for kids. I’m always doing that, so why not someone else? Thanks for the happy ending story. We need to remember there are good folks out there.
Cheryl @ Mommypants says
It’s SO true that there are, in fact, mostly good people out there. It’s the rare bad one that ruins it for everyone. I always tell me kids, if they ever get lost, to find either a policeman or fireman in uniform, OR to find a mommy with kids. Glad she was found safe and sound!
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
I too am a crazy person when it comes to going into public with my kids. I always think of the worst and am constantly thinking that some weirdo is going to snatch my kids…I mean they are beautiful.
Love the happy ending/people like us at the end of your post!
Crystal says
This totally made me cry. I’m really emotional right now, haha. That time of month. Anyway, first of all, I grew up in the same neighborhood where Elizabeth Smart was taken. My husband is always telling me awful stories from the news. I don’t want to hear it, but he MAKES me aware of the kinds of things we’re faced with these days. Makes me so sad that we have to worry about our kids so much.
This made me cry because I just imagined how I would feel if this happened, even if it is only 30 seconds, you know we all get those crazy, worst case senario thoughts in our head and start freaking out! Then to have finally found her, I would totally be crying in real life.
kisatrtle says
We have all had that feeling and it is nice to know that not everyone is out to get you.
Kristin says
That is SO scary! I’d have been sobbing uncontrollably by the time I found her. Thank God there are still decent people in the world. With so many crazies out there, it’s good to be reminded that some people aren’t nuts.
Amy says
That is SO scary! I enjoyed stopping by and visiting your blog. Please visit me @ http://mommetime.com …Take care, Amy
gaelikaa says
Hey I could have written this! I am extremely careful of my four. I hardly ever let my guard down and when I have, on the very rare occasion that it’s happened, I’ve inevitably had a crisis like that. You just can’t be too careful.
Like the evangelicals say, plead the blood of Jesus on them and ask the Lord to send his angels to take care especially if when you just can’t. It works for me!
Merrie says
I love that — remembering that there are good people right there with you. I’m the same way if I see a child that is clearly lost or anxious. I don’t take my eye off of them while trying not to make them nervous about me. I visualize the worst, too, whenever I let my mind go that way. I guess it can’t be helped. Comforting to know there are probably more of us good people out there than bad. Glad Laina was safe!
Alicia says
Thank you for this post. And it has been helpful reading the comments as well. I picked up some great ideas for keeping my children safe at Public places. I like the taking picture thing and writing your number on their arm or somewhere inconspicuous (is that the word?).