I lost my child today.
A couple days ago we went to Nordstrom Rack to buy some nice, inexpensive shoes for my boy. I was on the hunt for winter boots. We found two pairs of cute shoes and one pair of boots. He recently measured a size seven and a half, but I got the sevens anyways. I figured they were a good deal and his feet don’t seem to grow quickly so why not.
My common sense got the better of me this morning, so back to Nordstrom Rack we trekked. I saw the stroller in the garage as I buckled him into his carseat and I thought to myself, “this will be a quick trip, no need for a stroller.” I got in the car and we were off. Minutes later we arrived at our destination. As I was unbuckling his carseat I asked, “Boo, do you want to sit in the shopping cart or walk with mommy?” Of course he said “walk with mommy.” I didn’t think twice about it.
Inside we went. Past the shopping carts. Down the aisle separating the men’s and women’s departments. Fascinated with every bit, piece, cufflink, tie bar and tie there was, I should have known that his grabby hands and curiosity would be better suited for a shopping cart. But after every inquisitive, “is it?” I just answered his questions and we pressed on.
We finally made it to the shoe department where I quickly, and by quick I mean 25 second scan, perused the children’s shoe selection. Not great. Certainly no boots in his size. At this point, he had already started making his way through the sea of rounders and 4-way fixtures in the children’s apparel department.
Still not doubting my decision to allow him to “walk with mommy,” I gently steered him toward a fixture I had seen a cute sweatshirt on during our trip earlier in the week. I could tell he was getting antsy so I found a mirror directly adjacent to the rack I was standing next to so he could entertain himself for a measly 45 seconds. Lo and behold, I saw him careening past the mirror and on toward the front of the store. I immediately put said sweatshirt back on the rack and bolted after him.
But he was nowhere to be found.
I had turned my back for .3 seconds and I lost my kid! I started frantically looking up and down the aisles. I followed the path I had (wrongly) assumed he had taken.
He was nowhere! Vanished!
I started yelling for him. Thank god the store wasn’t busy yet because I must have looked like a crazy person.
I panicked for a good 30 seconds. I didn’t know what to do. I had never been in this situation before. I had never in my life imagined that I would be the mom with the lost kid. What should I do? He knows his name but he’s also in the phase of toddlerhood where everything is funny, especially the game of chase and find! It really didn’t matter that I was calling and yelling for him.
He was long gone.
I saw a woman standing in line with two younger kids. I shot her a pleading glance and asked if she had seen a toddler with curly hair running around, and then I desperately asked one of the sales ladies. No one had seen him! How could no one have seen him?!
I ran around a few more rounders and fixtures, completely beside myself with panic, when a saintly woman in line shouted and pointed all the way at the back of the store, “is that him?”
YES! It was him! Thank you a million times over to the complete stranger for caring enough to help me look for my child, and more importantly for finding my child!
As soon as I spotted him, I noticed two things. First, he was having the time of his life. He was running and hiding and laughing and giggling. He had no idea how much he scared his mama. Second, I noticed how mad I was at him for scaring me half to death. The little shit!
I ran as fast as I could across the store to catch him before he escaped again.
I held onto him like white on rice for the remainder of our time at Nordstrom Rack. Just long enough to return the boots.
Lesson learned. I will never casually shop for myself with my boy unrestrained. From here on, he will be in a stroller or a shopping cart. No exceptions! Give them an inch and they’ll take 20,000 square feet.
I lost my child today. And a compassionate stranger helped me find him.
