Just moments ago, I was washing clothes and holding a conversation with my 5 year old. My 16 month old was napping in her room. I went into my bedroom to put away some clothes and upon returning to the family room, saw that Ky was not sitting at the table like she had been when I left.
I called her name...no answer.
I checked her room...no answer.
I checked every room in the house and still could not find her.
Then sheer terror hit me...the pool!
I rushed out to the screened enclosure and searched the water. Thankfully she was not there...but where was she?
I ran into the backyard calling her name...no answer.
I ran out into the front yard screaming her name...no answer.
On the verge of tears, I ran to my next door neighbor's house and beat on the door. After what seemed like an eternity, someone answered the door...and that is when I found her. She had decided to see if her friend could play.
Relief flooded my body and my knees when weak. I told her to tell her friend good-bye...and then sent her to her room. I didn't know if I should hug her or scold her for leaving without telling me.
After regaining my composure, I went in and sat on her bed...and let her know that she must never do that again...
I just experienced every mother's nightmare...even if it was only for a short couple of minutes...but it was enough to last me a lifetime! Never again...
Hug your babies...and say a prayer for the mothers who cannot. Their pain has got to be unbearable.
Noah is 18
-
Dear Noah, I can't believe I'm writing this... but happy 18th birthday. You
know I've cried over this many times already, ;) buy ultimately I am so
very h...
1 day ago
17 comments:
That is incredibly scary! My heart truly sank the moment you mentioned the pool. My ex-room mates young cousin drown in their pool after a similar incident. They were in the process of alarming the pool and putting up a fence when it happened. It was truly heart breaking.
So glad your LO is alright!! Sending hugs your way!!
Oh my gosh--how scary!!! Thank goodness she was okay!
I am so sorry you had that experience. I know how your heart must have stopped when you couldn't find her.
That happened to me at the library last summer with my son. He decided it would be funny to hide behind one of the comfy chairs in the reading area. He told me he was getting a drink of water and then hid. I completely panicked. I think when he heard the tone in my voice and that I was actually getting loud in the library, he decided maybe it wasn't the time to play a joke on Mommy. I also did not know whether to hug him or punish him.
I cannot imagine the pain that mothers feel who do not find their kids behind a chair or at the neighbors. I'll hug mine tight tonight too.
I still remember the day 20+ years ago that I turned around in a dept. store to see that my son - age 4 - was gone.I mean one split second before he was right there beside me! As I walked from aisle to aisle my fear grew worse. I was feeling hysterical and then there he was looking toys with a little friend that he had come upon. I am gonna tell you that I was so relieved, but did spank {pop, pop on the bottom with my hand} him right then and there and told him to NEVER do that again. I explained why. He never did.
Awful feeling isn't it? I lost Baby Girl at Monkey Joe's (an indoor inflatible playground) a few months ago.
Oh my goodness, I can only imagine. And I have been through that with two of three kids already.... and each one was enough to last a life time.
I have felt that sheer terror and my stomach drop only once in my 6+ years of parenting, but once was one too many. I hate that you had that moment tonight. It's a hard one to shake. So glad it all turned out alright for you.
That is the worst feeling, ever.
I'd be like you...do I hug? do I scold? Do I do a bit of both?
I'd go with both.
How scary! So glad that she's alright.
Worst parents' nightmare. I'm glad your daughter was okay.
Oh I'm so sorry...so scary. I had that once when Mr. Lipstick and I were both looking at the mail outside and Pretty Girl took off down the driveway. We each thought the other was watching. When we looked up and caught each other's eyes...sheer terror. JBB was watching her and had stopped her from going down the entire driveway.
I'm so sorry you felt that terror. Hugs to you.
Oh my, soooo glad you found K! Bless your heart. Xoxo-BLC
I am so glad you found her! That is such a scary feeling!
When my oldest was 2, she had a terrible habit of walking out the door to visit the neighbors across the street! CRAZY! It didn't get any better with baby #2. I am always losing my youngest! She's like a Houdini!
The heart attacks aren't quite as bad as they used to be and I've learned how NOT to panic. No joke.
Oh. my. gosh.
Glad things turned out okay.
This happened to me with my son when he was just turning 3. I also ended up running outside and searching the neighbor's pool...unfortunately there was something at the bottom that for a split second looked like a body; it was just a toy or something, but it about gave me a heart attack. My neighbors were helping me search, and finally I found him hiding behind the couch!!!!!! If I hadn't been so relieved, I would have killed him. My daughter did the same thing to me a couple of years later, and she KNEW!!! It is the most heart-stopping, terrifying experience possible.
Just reading your post made my stomach hurt. It's particularly hard to think about today.
OMG how terrifying! I'm SO glad you found her. ::hugs::
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