Saturday, September 15, 2007
CODE RED
So it officially happened. I lost Taggart in Walmart yesterday. I let him con me into walking instead of riding in the cart (big mistake!). He was doing so well at first, picking things like ding-dongs, cookies, whatever else he wanted, and putting them into the cart. When we got to the very back of the store, I was looking at what size of pajamas I was going to buy for Maddie and he was right there looking at other jammies. I turn around and he is gone! I don't panic because I think he is just still around me. After I search the entire baby department, I start to branch out, thinking 'don't panic... he's around here somewhere... I'm going to beat him when I find him(j/k) etc. etc.' I then see 2 employees and ask them if they have seen a little boy. They ask me what he is wearing and no they haven't seen any wandering kids. So I just start walking towards the front of the store looking down all of the grocery aisles. After each one, nope not there! As I am almost to the front of the store they are announcing "Attention all Walmart employees, we have a CODE RED, a 2 year old wearing blue shorts... etc." I then spot him outside the double doors! I am then trying to run to him with a cart full of food and Maddie just chillin in her carseat. I notice there is a worker outside there talking to him. When I get outside he is just standing there with a pack of gum in his hands.. the shoplifter! I grab him and feel sooooo incredibly stupid. I just wanted to leave my groceries there and get in my car and go home! Talk about an unfit mother! The employee said that she asked him if they should go find his mom and he ran outside! Wow... I guess he pretty much did NOT miss me (too bad he doesn't feel the same way when I drop him off at nursery!) So after a huge lecture from my husband, today I am going to buy a leash. Yes, I am going to be that person with a leash on their toddler, but at least this way I won't lose him again! What a wanderer!! Has this happened to anyone else, or am I just a horrible mother? Let me know! Either I will feel better or worse.
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18 comments:
Mandy- Same thing happened to me at Walmart as well. My oldest when he was three wanted to run one way downt he aisle while I went the other and meet on the other side, but nope he wasn't there. I started walking fast, asking people if they knew where he was and pretty soon they are announcing it over the intercom. And yes you fill like the worst and the stupidest mother ever. I also heard from Carson. These husbands of ours think that parenting is just easy and why and how could you loose your child! It happened one other time and Kents, but you got the idea that it does happen to other people. Aren't little boys a joy!!!
Courtney
That must have been so scary! But I can't help but find it funny as a get flash backs of my sister, this "code red" would happen to us like once a month. and for what seemed like yrs. She just would not stay put, it got to the point were as soon as she noticed that we were gone she would walk herself up to the workers and have them call us to the front.So embarrassing....... Don't worry it will happen again and you're not the first or last it will happen to.
claudia
I am afraid to find out what Bobby would do so I refuse to take him anywhere. I shop online or wait for Rob to get home and then go alone for my sanity. BUT...today? I closed his fingers in the door and he escaped the house. He opens doors now and the garage door was open...next thing I know, he is in the middle of the street with no shoes on and a diaper. Nice.
Any advice on temper tantrums? Bobby is very mellow...but he sure can pull a good cry. Like right now as I am writing...big tears and trying to bite me? What is up with that?
Isn't ironic that all the bad things happen to us and our kids when WE, the moms, who actually pay attention to our kids and watch them closely, are the ones that have the kids?!!! It NEVER happens that a kid gets lost or locked in a car(in my case), when theire Dad's have them. I think it is just luck, and you need to tell Cam to lay off, remember you had to get locks on your doors after he was watching him and Tag ended up out in the front yard!!! He is a Hudini, that kid can get out of anything and anywhere. Maybe you should sign him up for magician lessons now, at least he could get paid for his escape acts!!!
love ya!
sweet thing! like you' re getting a lease! i love it! it's so 1992! crack me up!you are such a good mama...you know this...kids...now that's the problem!
So Mandy I have a question for you. Kim gave me instructions to change my background for my blog, but how do you add another color so you can see your words better. Like Kim's yellowish color. I have sent her a message, but I figure she has a life and probably doesn't have time to help my stupid questions and what can a say we are moms, we have nothing better then blogging!!! HAHA Thanks Courtney
courtney- you have to go into customize on your blog and change the color of the text... I am not sure if it is the body, or whatever, just play around with changing the color.
Mandy- It has happened to all of us!!! At least you kept your cool and didn't panic. I look like a crazy person running around, yelling Haven's name. And I have contemplated the leash too! It kind of looks fun for the kid!
So Mandy please check out my blog and see what I am doing wrong. I think I need to add another paper, but how? Thanks again
To Ricki and all the other mothers that are out there saying we don't know how it is. Shame on all of you. We do know how it is and yes I'm sure some of us may have even been there before. It doesn't make it any less of a problem and if it were to go unsaid, it may happen again and who knows if he makes it out into the parking lot next time. Just looking out for the kids, SORRY, shoot us.
This is Cam if you haven't caught that yet.
Oh Mandy, I hate that!! I have lost Kate before--not quite a "code red" situation, but I know the panic that just starts to rise inside you, even it it has only been a few seconds. My sis-in-law has given in and gotten her son a leash as well....remember before we had kids, and we would smugly judge all those moms who had their kids on leashes? How unfair that was! Don't be so hard on yourself...it has happened to all of us! The only bummer of that story is that it doesn't sound like Taggert even got remotely traumatized into not running away again! :)
Cam!!!!! I am so mad at you!!! I really thought Mandy thought we were all doggin' on her when I first started reading your comment!!! You really had me going, and here I am yelling at my computer, "No Mandy, we don't think your bad, we have all been there!!" And then I read further, and it is just your stinking butt trying to get a rise out of all of us!!! Thanks a lot!
So I have sat down to comment on this post about 15 times now in the past week and each time have been interrupted by some dire and dramatic emergency involving my two pre-schoolers. They can't handle me blogging because it takes the attention off of them for a few minutes! I am so sorry that this happened to you! It is the worst feeling ever to lose a child for even a second. I am lucky now because my girls are a little older and I can reason with them a little better, but I have sooo been there. I have officially turned into the Mommy that I said I'd NEVER be.
I am all about a leash! Gib throws a fit whenever I try to put him in the cart or a stroller b/c he just wants to walk, but he's a fast little bugger and has gotten away from me quite a few times. You would think I would learn my lesson but I haven't. I think I'll go out and get a leash tomorrow.
Ouch! I can totally see Tag's little innocent face when he saw you looking all worried. It happens to all parents, Mandy. I actually left Kody at Burger King when he was about four. I counted heads, but forgot about having my friends kids. The manager called me at home and I turned around and went back for him. He was just chillin' with the manager when I got there (I'm sure he told him all our family secrets). He still hasn't forgiven me. The shoplifting is another issue entirely. . .
Mandy,
That is scary, but you had me laughing the way you wrote it. I like to think things like this happen to all mothers so that I don't feel so quilty.
Love Jeni Otterson
Ok Mandy new post! We want new pics and know how the vaca was. By the way how did you like books?
Good post.
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