In Reply to: yesterday posted by porceleindoll on August 19, 2004 at 20:37:25:
Reminds me of a similar experience when my son was about 4. I lost him in a huge crowd at a mall during Christmas shopping season. He got upset with me over something (can't remember what now) and ran off. At first I wasn't concerned, but when I couldn't locate him in the sea of bodies after 15 minutes--man, did I start to freak out. Yes, I prayed desperately to find my kid. Also prayed desperately to stay calm and figure out the best thing to do. Should I notify the mall cops? Keep looking? Stay put and hope he finds he way back?
There's really no fear quite like losing your child, even if you have little reason to think he's gone forever. There's just way too many stories about kids being snatched by predators in public places. I finally located him near the spot where he took off--he was standing at the mall entrance & looking soooo scared. But of course, he denied he was scared. However, he never, ever ran off like that again.