My daughter is 2 1/2. We were in the toy isles looking for a gift for my nephew. I went into a different isle and I assumed she stayed with her father. He later told me that he saw her following me when I left. So, he thought she was with me. I never saw her in the isle I went to. It took us about 5 min to even relaize she was missing! We were running around the store like crazy people. We finally found her standing with a women who also had a child. I felt like a complete moron. After all the hype died down, I started thinking "I wonder if those people in the store thought I was a bad parent?" What do you think?
2006-09-13 06:30:58 · 58 answers · asked by Kelli550 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
That is an extremely scary feeling..nothing like it in the world. I am sure it has happened to many parents and it doesn't sound like you were being neglectful. I know it has happened to me. Just give her a big hug and learn from this experience never to take your eyes off of her in a store even if you think she is staying with daddy. Relax, u are not a bad mom.
2006-09-13 06:36:52 · answer #1 · answered by **KELLEY** 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Children that young are prone to wonder. NO I do not think you are a bad parent. However maybe next time you should put her in the cart and that way she cannot wonder away from you or your husband. Don't feel bad about it. Now a days though with people taken the kids so often this should be your lesson to be alert to where your kids are when you are shopping. this is not a put down by any means. we just have to be on our toes with children that small.
When my daughter was little like that, I once started to freak out because I thought she wondered away when she was standing quitely right behind me in the store.
2006-09-13 06:41:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, mistakes happen, you aren't a bad parent. Just take this as a lesson learned--to make sure you always have your eyes on her...and ask your husband if he has her before you leave--so there won't be another mis-communication. Some people think they are the best parents in the world, they think these things never happen, and to some people they don't. You don't know how to fix a problem unless you've had the problem yourself. That's funny she was just standing next to a woman with a child though...it's funny you think kids would be soo frightened to be with out us--but most of the time they are just fine--we're the ones freaking out! Good Luck!
2006-09-13 06:37:28 · answer #3 · answered by .vato. 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I think the important question here is what did you learn from this. Who cares what anyone thought. Spending time worrying about what strangers think instead of spending time thinking about how to ensure it doesn't happen again is silly.
OK here's how it goes - you know children are naturally headstrong and curious. You have to make sure your kids know to stay with one or the other of you when you go different ways. What if this had happened out in the wilderness somewhere? You have to not only tell your child "come with me" or "stay with daddy", you have to get them to respond - and this is critical - they have to say "YES MOMMIE" or whatever. Make sure they hear and understand by getting a response.
You want to hear a bad parent story? Summer was hot and Cheryl regretted agreeing not to take the kids to the pool just because she was a lousy swimmer. They were 4 and 5 years old and knew to stay out of trouble, she decided, so she took them despite agreeing not to do so. Greg got home from work and found them gone and realized they were at the pool and headed that way only to find that Cheryl had gotten into a conversation and stopped watching Chris, who had been jumping into the pool in the shallow end (still beyond where he could touch but where she said he could do so) then grabbing the wall and puling himself to where he could stand. But one time he misjudged and not only jumped where the steep slope to the deep end was, but also he jumped too far out and so couldn't make it back to the edge. When Cheryl realized she could no longer hear him spalshing she looked up to find him motionless on the bottom of the deep end. She jumped in, but was not a strong enough swimmer to get to the bottom to save him.
Now that's a bad parent and the price can be death.
2006-09-13 07:32:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Probably people in the store thought that, but the truth is that you are not a bad parent, those things happen a lot to almost every parent...don't worry, your kids will be fine.
My mom "lost" 4 of her 5 children, and every time it was for more than 5 minutes...and we all turned out great.
Next time just be sure the dad is with the kid. Good luck
2006-09-13 06:41:22 · answer #5 · answered by fireangel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who cares what people think, but the safety of your child is very important. Put the child in a cart. I see lots of parents struggling with 2-3 yr old when they let them just walk around, it's silly to think they'll follow you or not get sidetracked by a toy. My son is almost three and no matter what he stays in the cart. It makes my life so much easier and I know he is there. He always asks me to come out, but I say "a store is not a playground, it is no place for you to be running around"
2006-09-13 06:44:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No you are not a bad parent.. all parents have done this and they probably really felt very sorry for the panic you were in and was wondering if you were going to beat the child to death for scaring you like that..
I lost my little brother in the store once he was hiding in the clothes racks. just tell a clerk and they will block all doors before they can get out of the store.
They will have a total shut down of people going out of the store til you find your child.. that is the new security in case someone picked them up..
2006-09-13 06:46:06 · answer #7 · answered by Sandy F 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course not! You'd have to be completely neurotic or have OCD in order to keep an eye on your child(ren) every second. But, you can and should learn from this, and I'm sure you have. Whenever splitting from your hubby, verbally decide who is responsible for the child(ren). Also, you may want to get a harness. Some people think it's inappropriate, but you don't have to worry about what they think. Just worry about keeping your child safe. The harness will allow some freedom of movement for both you and your child, but only a limited distance from you.
2006-09-13 07:35:49 · answer #8 · answered by DivaDynamite 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not think that your a bad parent because that could happen to anyone. However, when you have your daughter with you always be alert and not assume that she is with your husband.
Children can get kidnapped so quickly and it is extremely scary these days. WHen I take my daughter out, I make sure that I have her near me. I hold her hands really tight because I do not want someone to take my child... You was very lucky that you found your little angel. Let this be a lesson to you, I don't think that this will ever happen to you again...
2006-09-13 06:37:49 · answer #9 · answered by Vicky 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are not a bad parent. Some kids wander off it happen's. I bet you will never let it happen again. My friends daughter wandered off in Walmart. They had to close the whole store down until they found her. Some kids are just more adventurous than others. My son won't leave my side for a second. What I did is one time he was wondering off on me. So I positioned myself out of site from my son, but I could still see him. He realized he couldn't see me and he was about to cry when I let him see me. He has never wandered from me again.
2006-09-13 09:15:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋