You ever have one of those days (or in this case, moments) that makes you feel like you just lost 5 five year off your life? Yeah, well...
What started off being a swell afternoon meet-up at the mall with some friends and their kids, ended up coming extremely close to my biggest nightmare.
Avery vanished.
Between me and my 3 girlfriends, there where 7 children to watch who were all under the age of 4. Not to mention that 2 of these are babies that had to be held, and on top of that, 2 of my friends are very pregnant... Sorry to through out so many numbers there, but this just puts the situation into perspective for you. It was crazy!
Needless to say, the play area in the mall was crawling with kiddos. We were all sort of keeping our eyes on the kids that belonged to our group, even though it is only natural that I was keeping a close eye out for what my munchkins were up to as well.
We were in the middle of handing out snacks and sippy cups, when I began scanning the sea of little heads looking for Avery. It's funny how when you're just even thinking out loud, "I don't see Avery", the moms around have an instant, simultaneous reaction. Their heads pop up, their brows narrow in as their eagle eyes search the crowd. Within seconds there is an unspoken, almost telepathic communication that says loud and clear,
"She's not here."
I was out of my seat and exiting the play area faster than I could even think of where to begin searching. My friends were just steps behind me and quickly scattered every which way hoping that we'd cover every possible direction she could have gone. With Gracey on my hip I headed straight for the nearest parking lot exit (that Avery would have noticed) in fear that she would have gone outside near moving vehicles, but to be honest that wasn't the first nightmare that went racing through my head.
Somehow, with me, I instantly fear that someone has taken her... I know, that's a bit overboard for the first minute or so that I can't see her, but I can't help it and so I don't ignore it. After a few more minutes of calling out for her and cluelessly running from here to there, I found myself gearing up to shout at the top of my lungs. I didn't know what I was going to say, but it would have been loud and gotten lots of people's attention.
What seemed like 20 minutes passed (really it was about 5) and she was found. Avery had walked out of the (opened) enterence to the play area, and walked down a long tiled hallway that employees use. At the end of it was an elevatore and of course, my 2 year old, knows just how to use it. I can just imagine her proudly pressing the buttons and without a fear in the world, traveling alone up to the 2nd floor.
There on the 2nd floor Avery was spotted escorting herself off of the elevator. Some kind stranger looked down over the railing and called out to someone below that they had found her, and then kept her near until I could get to her. Of course, on my way up to get her, I felt myself crumbling under the flood of emotion that I was trying to hold back while looking for her. Those minutes of fearing the worst were enough to wipe me out for the rest of the day.
I tryed to compose myself a bit before Avery saw me crying. I wanted her to know how much she scared mommy and how dangerous that little maneuver was, but at the same time would she understand that that was why mommy was crying? Regardless, the tears kept coming, we had a stern chat and long hug, and I have no doubt that Avery saw how serious I was about her leaving mommy.
So... (deep sigh of relief)
Thank you to all my gals who treated the search for Avery like a search for their own child. Thank you Lord for keeping her safe and that she was never for one moment out of you sight.
I know that this sort of story sounds really familiar to mommies out there who've got toddlers... Isn't it just the WORST THING EVER??? UGH!
