Lost and found.

The fear of losing your own child wouldn't be comprehended fully until the time when it really happens, even for a good few seconds or minutes, worst, for hours or days.

I had this first hand experience myself a few years ago. My eldest son, at that time, 6+ yo, wandered out by himself when the music class was over whilst I was busy at the counter settling some stuffs. I was expecting him to be right behind me as we came out from the class and it was that one small but destructive assumption which sent my soul totally lost when I realized he was nowhere to be seen in the school.

My eyes went misty, my mind raced crazy mad, my heart wanted to jump out, I was at the verge of becoming insane and I was so scared. The world suddenly seemed so huge for me when I imagine that a small little guy like him wandering around out on the open streets on his own and I was fearing the biggest fear of not seeing my beloved son again. It sure is not an experience that any mothers would like to have in their lifetime. But you wouldn't know how it's 100 times worse going through it than just fearing it would happen for real itself.

When I finally found him again, after sometime which seemed like days, the relief that spewed out was indescribable. I just wanted to hug him tight and promised not to ever, ever lose him so carelessly again. Apparently, he was right behind me coming down from the stairs together, then I had walked to the counter assuming he would be right at my tail when in actual fact, he diverted to the doorway, out from that shop. He then thought I had left him behind when he couldn't see me anywhere and quickly walked out from that row of shops, turned right to the quiet alley into the complex behind where I would usually park my car. That was the route we most often took as we attended his weekly music classes.

When I found him, following the trail quickly, keeping my fingers crossed that he had taken that route to the car too, he was wailing so hard at the counter with several people surrounding him. I felt guilty to the max for losing my own son, feeling like the worst mom on earth. The people were relieved too that mother and son were reunited again, and I could vividly remember hearing, some asking me not to scold him. How would I have the heart to? I should have kicked myself in the ass instead! How could I possibly be assuming he was right behind me, following my back! Kids, they are that vulnerable. They sometimes drift in their own thoughts and totally forgotten about where they were or what they were doing. Or something could easily catch their eyes that divert their attention away.That moment I saw him again, I prayed a silent pray that God had been kind or an angel was looking after him, and fortunately, no abductors were around who would have easily taken advantage of his vulnerability at that time.


I realized too that I should have taught him about the basics of his safety even before he starts to talk! I didn't even make him memorize our handphone numbers! I had taken this very important topic for granted so much, as I had heaps on confidence that I wouldn't lose sight of him at all! Never ever procrastinate to create awareness of safety in our children. It's never too early for that matter.

So what do you do to create awareness in your children? Let's just share.

For a start, I would talk to them that this is real, this is happening, not a fairy tale spinned from my empty head to create this fear in them. Showing them pictures of missing children, newspaper reports and discussing what might have happened to them . Read books on safety to enforce their awareness. What to do and not to do when in case, they really get lost. Memorize hard our phone numbers! Tell them to take care of one another. Not to talk to strangers even when it seems to be rude. Mannerism lessons have to be compromised a bit here, sorry.

But is that good enough? The best that I can do? Are the kids well prepared and remember well what I told them? Nooooo!!!! I still see them running around after school, each their own ways, responding to strangers and possibly, I wildly guess, throw every safety lessons I tried drilling in them, out of the window if an unfortunate planned abduction occurs. Because, they are just children after all, innocent and happy. We just shouldn't let our guards down even when we think they are big enough or learned enough to handle these matters.It can happen anywhere, at anytime, to anyone and at any age. Keep both eyes on our children like hawks as when it really happens, believe me, you sure wished that you have superpowers to turn back time to that second they went missing.