File under: things that couldn't happen to me

[pinkeggs]

I wasn't going to post about this because I want it to "go away", but I figured I may as well as a little PSA.

This past weekend I took my girls to the Jersey Shore with some friends for a little mini-vacation. The beach was pretty crowded. My daughters are almost 5 & 3 years old. I took them by myself, my husband stayed home.

We were sitting on the beach chatting, and my 3 year old was sitting next to me. I turned my head to talk to my friend for a minute, and when I turned back, she was gone. I scanned the area quickly, and I couldn't find her. A minute or two went by and then I asked my friends if they saw her. No one did.

One of them immediately went and told the nearest lifeguard, who got on his walkie talkie. A few minutes went by and the panic was rising fast. I started to feel physically sick. Other people on the beach could tell I was looking for my child and came up to help. A rescue truck drove up and asked me to describe her.

It was so surreal. I kept feeling like, "No, I am not describing MY child. That's not MY baby that's missing. I'm not telling emergency personnel her name and hair color and what her swimsuit looks like." That's what was happening though.

She had been gone about 10-ish minutes when it hit me: what if she's gone? Like, gone? What if THIS is the worst day of my entire life that I recount the details of for the rest of my life. I felt like I might fall over.

Thank God suddenly the walkie talkie in the truck started going off and the driver looked at me and said, "They got her! Hop in, we'll pick her up." She had managed to get almost 8 blocks down the beach. I held it together well until they handed her to me, and then I broke down, big time.

You guys, it was SO fast. I wasn't on my phone on Facebook or Instagram or texting or anything. I wasn't reading a magazine. I was totally engaged and watching them. I just looked away for a MINUTE to talk.

Anyway, sorry this is long and kind of dramatic. It feels therapeutic to type it out, and I am still processing some feelings about it, I think. Just thought I would share because I was one of those people who thought I would never "lose" my kid.

[game blouses]

I'm so sorry this happened to you!! I can't imagine the terror. I did this to my mom when I was little and she literally just screamed until a neighbor brought me back an hour later.

Hopefully she was freaked out enough by you crying to never do that again!

[sonrisa]

((Hugs)) what an awful day at the beach. I'm glad she was safe.

[ax2]

Oh no, what a scary thing. I'm so glad she was safe.

You're a great mama, don't beat yourself up.

[Deleted]

Hugs!!!

[isabel]

Ugh. That sounds like such a nightmare! I don't have kids, but reading that made my stomach drop. I'm so glad you got her back without incident.

[snipsnsnails]

Oh, pink, I'm giving you ((((bighugs)))) Thank goodness she is safe.

[pinkeggs]

Aug 13, 2013 22:17:53 GMT -5 ax2 said:

Oh no, what a scary thing. I'm so glad she was safe.

You're a great mama, don't beat yourself up.

Thank you for saying that. Once she was safe and sound, that was the hardest thing: the guilt. I felt so shitty. Honestly, I would have felt worse if I HAD been messing around on my phone or something and she wandered off. Still. A good wake up call.

I did just email the beach patrol headquarters that we were at thanking them for their kindness and professionalism.

[AHappierHour]

(( hugs))

[thinklikeajellyfish]

I am so glad they found her! I'm so sorry that happened. 

[Deleted]

Oh my god this is such a fear of mine.

You are a good mom.

They can get away so quick. So quick.

I'm so glad she is safe.

[DotAndBuzz]

Big hugs to you. That is completely terrifying, and I'm so glad she is safe.

[Deleted]

:-( Poor you. I'm so glad she's ok. That had to be the absolute worst feeling in the world.

[papie]

OMG you poor thing.  I was getting panicky just reading your post.  This is my biggest fear with Sophia, she just takes off and doesn't look back.  I am so happy everything ended well and it didn't last too long.  Wow. 

(((hugs)))

[pugz]

(hugs) that sounds SO scary! I'm glad she was found and okay.

[anlo]

It can happen so fast, to anybody. I'm so glad she is safe! So scary.

[FastHands]

Omg how terrifying! I don't know you or have kids and my heart rate spiked just reading this! So glad there was a happy ending.

[amberlyrose]

Oh, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that! I'm glad she's safe!

[shoeless]

((hugs)) I'm so sorry this happened to you! You are a good Mom.

[Deleted]

I agree it can happen to anyone. I am so glad she is okay.

[pinkeggs]

Aug 13, 2013 22:28:04 GMT -5 lilmissladybug said:

I just went through something similar on July 3rd. My DD is 7 and I had to call the police to find her. It was absolutely terrifying, and I felt like the worst mom ever. I made her sleep with us that night. I wrapped my arms around her and laid awake the entire night with all the "what ifs" and relief of being able to hold her tight.

Oh God, I'm so sorry! It's the most horrible thing ever, isn't it? I cried again just typing this out. I'm so glad your daughter is OK, too. Thank you for sharing this. Hugs.

[HiC]

I am so happy you found her safe and sound. So scary.

[UMaineTeach]

glad she's ok

[polka]

How terrifying! I'm so glad she is okay. Sorry you went through that

[wannabe]

I'm in tears reading this. SO glad it ended well. Don't beat yourself up, though I'd totally do the same. You're a great mom!

[margotmacomber]

You made me tear up.  I'm glad she's ok.  Those little fuckers work some numbers on us, that's for sure.

[pinkeggs]

Aug 13, 2013 22:44:53 GMT -5 lilmissladybug said:

Aug 13, 2013 22:32:00 GMT -5 pinkeggs said:

Oh God, I'm so sorry! It's the most horrible thing ever, isn't it? I cried again just typing this out. I'm so glad your daughter is OK, too. Thank you for sharing this. Hugs.

My DD was in summer school, the night before we had made plans with the neighbor girl and her mom to have DD go over to play after she got off the bus. DD came in and dropped her backpack off, told me she was going to her friends house. I told her if her friend wasn't home or couldn't play she had to come home right away. Fast forward three hours later and her friend came over to see if DD could play. I was calm and trying to figure out where she could be. At that point she had been gone 3hrs so I was thinking the worst while trying to figure out which friend she could be with. 

I could barely remember what she wore, I said her bike was pink but it is purple. I had to send a picture of her out to the police, who sent it out county wide. Finally she was found not far away playing with some neighbor kid. I guess she was coming back from her friends house and saw a mom and little girl her age, the mom took DD home with her. I still to this day have no idea who this woman is and DD can't remember which house it was because we live in a townhouse community. 

I didn't break down crying until my friend called to tell me she found DD and had her in the car. I was angry and relieved. THE most terrifying time ever. I felt like a horrible mom because she was gone for 3hrs before I even knew! I no longer allow her to even leave the driveway and if her friends want to play, they have to come over. This all happened at the same time the 2yr old boy in WI went missing, DD watched the news with us and I think it finally hit her that what she did was very wrong and just how terrified I was. 

That sounds HORRIBLE. I'm so glad she had just gotten "sidetracked" with someone else. Ugh.

[runforrest]

Oh my god, how scary! I'm so glad she is okay.

[Deleted]

I'm so sorry you went through that. I was with the girls I nanny for and one is special needs. While I was helping the younger one dry off, the older one wandered off. My back was turned less than a minute and she was that quick to disappear. We were at the children's museum and had finished playing in the water area. When I found her a couple minutes later, I've never felt so relieved and angry at the same time. Such a crazy feeling.

[Deleted]

Glad it all turned out fine.  Eight blocks, she can really book it.  So scary for you, so sorry you went through that.