It's every mother's fear...losing a child in a public place. It's amazing how fast it can happen and how fast panic can set in. We went to our mall for a friend's birthday. We had cupcakes in the food court (Exhibit A) and then went to an arcade/restaurant for the kids to play games. It was a little too old for my kids, but they had fun just the same. I sat guard at the entrance to be sure none from our group escaped as it was very busy, loud, etc. At the end, we rounded up our four and put coats on. We told them to say thank you and goodbye to their friends. When I turned around again, Nathanael was gone! It's a feeling like in the movies when the person is standing still and everything else is spinning around them. There's no noise, but the silence is deafening. I said, "Where's Nathanael?" I did a quick round of the game area while my chatty husband chatted away. When I came back, now obviously panicked, and said "I can't find him!" Colombo started to help. Now this is not Chuck E. Cheese. This is like a Dave and Buster's with a bar and 25 t.v.'s and adults playing pool, pinball and shootin' hoops; in a mall no less, so fear set in. Well, as I made my way to the entrance, I was relieved to see my husband carrying him back our way. He had wandered into the restaurant area and was taken to the hostess station. So scary! So, that makes 3 for 4. I lost C4 a couple years ago and actually called 911. Then we momentarily lost Madison at a colesium in D.C. while at a NHL hockey game. She followed a lady in coat that looked like mine. It's terrifying. I'm so grateful to God for his protection.
