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We had a little scare during our trip to Santa Cruz.
We were well into our evening on the Boardwalk & Malia wanted more tickets to ride the roller coaster. Mike wandered over to the ticket machine with Max following behind him. Malia asked if we could sit at the tables while we waited for tickets. So we worked our way over there.
Mommy instinct kicked in. I was watching Max follow his daddy but I had the feeling that Mike didn’t know that Max was following him. So I waited a little to make sure Mike looked back or that Max caught up. I couldn’t see Max’s expression but at one point he looked up and behind his right shoulder (2 young teens were just adjacent to him). He realized that it wasn’t me & Malia walking with him & he must have forgot that his daddy was right in front of him. He bolted. I have never seen him move so fast. He ran for it….RIGHT OUT OF THE PARK. Mike, naturally, is completely oblivious. Doesn’t even realize that Max is behind him or that he’s now run off. WTH!
I go running after Max in my cheapo flip flops and could not catch up to him. Thankfully Max dropped to the ground in tears thinking we were gone. OMG. But what a scary moment. I’m glad I followed my instincts and kept an eye on him and didn’t walk over to the benches like we had intended. He could have ran right into traffic or rounded the corner into the crowds. Malia is more of the explorer. Max always stays close to one of us. He just panicked and totally forgot that daddy was right in front of him.
We had a conversation about both of them to 1) always let us know where they’re at 2) if we get separated, STAY in place and find a worker for help.
OMG Mary, I feel your fear. That is one of the scariest things as a parent. It happens to all of us at one point in time, because, well, kids being kids. If I even lose sight of Rhett for a second, I’m a freaked-out mess. One safety thing we do every single time before we go into a public venue is to review with Rhett what to do if he becomes separated from us. You’ve got it right! Go find a worker or store worker, etc. We always point out what the workers look like, etc. This helps tremendously. I never assume Rhett is actually listening to me. We make him repeat it back. Places like the Braves games, amusement parks, any large public outing like a festival, etc. Every time.
yeah – unfortunately I have to have similar conversations with their FATHER! Ugh! I had to remind him that HE needs to be just as aware of where his kids are and not assume that they’re with me. Men are so clueless! I had to tell him that this is exactly why I’m graying so quickly. My mind is always in high gear. Always. If I had not been watching Max, he would absolutely have gotten lost.
OMG, yes. I just think most dads I know are not as hyper-aware of the things moms are. Including kid safety in a crowd. Still, to this day, when Scott walks off with Rhett, I tell him “hold his hand, don’t look away, etc.” cuz if it’s not me that’s keeping an eye on him, I just don’t trust Scott as much as I trust myself.
Right? Moms, in general, are always 5 steps ahead – always thinking about what’s coming.
Even later on that night, we were walking back to the hotel and there was a disturbance between 2 drunks. Mike looks on, completely fascinated, while I’m maneuvering the kids between me & the building so that they’re shielded if anything took a turn. Our hotel had a gate & while he was watching the fight go, i’m trying to get him to open the damn gate so we can get the kids in. And he’s wondering, “what are you so worried about?” SMH! CLUELESS!Sounds like something Scott would do! And then Scott sometimes worries about stuff that I’m like, okay, THAT’S NOT what you should be worried about. Like, he worries about the wrong things. Yes, he’s a great dad, but I’m convinced Rhett would not have survived without mommy being there for him 😉
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