That moment where everything around spins while you stand still, yet you are the one spinning. Looking in every direction trying to spot her.
She was right there.
RIGHT THERE.
Then she was gone.
Split seconds that felt like minutes passed.
Scenes of missing children flashing across my eyes.
Panic.
Helpless.
How could this happen?
She was RIGHT THERE.
Then she wasn’t.
Somehow I was spinning to look in every direction yet it felt like was I standing still while the world spun past me in double time.
Surreal.
I felt sick.
Then I blinked and she came running from a place she shouldn’t have been.
“I thought Daddy went into that store and I was following him.”
I didn’t have to say a word, she felt it too.
We lost her, but she was lost.
That same panic.
Fear.
Helplessness.
I grabbed her hand and didn’t let go the rest of the day.
She didn’t either.
We got lucky that day. There were 3 adults there with my 2 kids and we all turned to go in another direction. Abby was there next to us as we turned and I thought she was right there behind my husband and my son as we turned around. She left my vision but she should have been there had she been doing what she should have. I turned back a second later and she was gone.
She told us that she thought Daddy went into the store across the plaza and was following him. She made the choice to leave me and Grandma and follow him without telling anyone, only, it wasn’t him.
With the stories of the missing girls in Iowa, that brief few seconds had me beside myself, and my husband and mother-in-law had the same panic set in. We have equipped her with knowledge of stranger danger. We have explained to her what to do when you get lost. She was wearing a bracelet with my cell phone number on it.
But yet why do I feel like I failed her?
About Kimberly Grabinski
I can’t imagine how scary that would be, and goodness I don’t want to!! I am so glad she is safe and sound. You didn’t fail her! She is where she belongs – with YOU!
Oh I have felt that before – and just reading this makes my chest feel tight remembering. I can not imagine how parents feel who lose their children, I have no idea if I would be able to survive it. You didnt fail anything Mama – we all have those “moments” I think. Reminds us to pray for those who have had different outcomes.
Last week at the county fair we lost our three year old. It was the longest 10 minutes of my life! Turns out she just had gotten back one of the kiddie rides. I still feel paniced when I think about that day. So glad you found your little one!
Wow, 10 minutes! It’s so scary, and I’m sure even more so for them. Glad your story turned out ok too, nothing worse than missing children, nothing.
scary! I have trouble explaining stranger danger to my 3 yo because she is so friendly, she will just walk up to random people and hug their leg. she g=has run off in a store on us once and the feeling of losing her was gut-wrenching
Jake was like that, but while Abby is shy around people she is fearless when it comes to exploring. That feeling is gut-wrenching because you assume the worse. I had a made-for-tv movie flash before my eyes.
My girls have had alot of the talk going on with what’s going on here. Even in an area where they are comfortable playing, I’ve really had to enforce, you DO NOT leave my eye sight. You might have been able to run behind the building but if I can’t see you, I can’t get to you fast enough if someone mean was to be there.
It’s scary the world we live in :(
It is a scary world. I can rationalize that the “chances” of her being taken are slim, but it doesn’t make the fear any less real. A split second and your world can change forever.
I can’t imagine what it’s like experiencing missing kids first hand. My heart hurts….
Thank God she’s safe. My adrenalin was starting to pump just reading this… the fear… You should write fiction, because you know how to relate a story!!
Thanks Pam. I wasn’t sure I was able to put my feelings across in a way that translated, thanks for letting me know it did.
Writing fiction is actually on my to-do list. I’ve always felt I could and always wanted to but was afraid to fail so I never pulled the trigger. Bucket list I guess LOL.