So, tonight I decided to go grocery shopping after the baseball game. That put us the local HEB around 8:45.... silly me, I thought they wouldn't be busy... I was WRONG. Apparently this is when all the parents come out do their multi-family grocery shopping. It is insane. I hate grocery shopping. I would like to order online... so if that is an option somebody let me know.. :)
On another note, and the purpose of this rant... As we were waiting in line, I watched a woman walking toward us looking for the shortest line... I heard her call out to a little girl, her daughter, I assume... the problem you ask?? The little girl was almost 100 feet behind her mom... and I am not talking about a 10 year old... she was maybe 3... maybe. Her mom, didn't even pause as she called her name... she continued to go about 8 aisles past me. I don't know how your HEB is, but mine has a book section right at the front for all little children to play hide and seek, or just amuse themselves I guess. Her little girl just had to look at the children's book selection displayed... This put her completely out of the view of her mom. Did mom notice? Nope. As her mom began unloading her groceries... I counted 243 seconds before she began to look around. Of course as she began to glance around, I wondered if it was okay for me to point out where her daughter was, or would that make me the creep because I had been watching? Such a decision... In the end I did tell her where she was, and she wasn't even mildly alarmed that I knew... which is WEIRD to me... but maybe I just look like the neighborhood babysitter, I don't know. Anyway, I just stood there and thought about all the things that could have happened. The bathroom is nearby, as are the exits. It wouldn't have taken much less time for someone to snatch her precious baby, and be out the door, before she even realized it.
I am not saying that parents never lose sight of their children... I am not condemning parents at all... I know how hard parenting is. I do it everyday by myself. I have been in mass chaos, large crowds... scary, dirty county fairs... it is hard to keep our children beside us every moment. HOWEVER, you cannot tell me that not knowing where your child is for almost 5 minutes... when she was 100 feet behind you to begin with, is okay. Especially at such a young age. How devastating it would be if the outcome had been different.
I lost Dominic in Walmart... he was running after Anthony & my cousin... and this lady with a massive basket walked right behind him and in front of me... he was less than 5 feet in front of me, and two seconds after she passed, I couldn't see him. It was so horrifying. I immediately called my cousin, as I got the manager to begin code Adam. The whole thing from start to finish was less than a minute. But it was the most terrifying minute.
I am simply reminding you that if you are reading this, if you have children.... be mindful, that children do not think rationally, they dart and hide, and stop to stare... and it is our responsibility to know where they are and keep them safe. And if you are incredibly stupid.. I hope someone like me is there watching.. because had a creep tried to grab her, I would have stabbed him. For real :)
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