Ok I admit it - I've pulled my judgey pants well and truly up - but still bloody cross at these irresponsible adults!

[ChasingPavements123]

So today we took dc's (3 &5) to a local popular attraction. Place was very busy and we were having a great time - its a brilliant place for kids but not one where you'd want to leave them completely to their own devises - i.e. animals, vehicles, water features etc. We were having a great time and wondered into another part of the park and found a little boy playing at the edge of a pond, looking around couldn't see parents etc or obvious group he was with and so started to talk to him. He told us he'd lost his friends, he'd lost them 'long time ago' and so I walked about asking people in the local vicinity etc and as we had no luck I took him back to the nearby restaurant and alerted the park staff. He was three years old, relatively articulate (i.e. could tell me his name and after a long conversation I realised he was with his mum's friends rather than his mum) but scared, sad and worried. Luckily having two young dcs I had colouring bits and dino snap on me which kept him amused. It took the park rangers 25mins to locate the mum's friends. Now my 'judgey pants' are not up because the child got lost. Crikey some of the best of us have had that heart pounding moment when you can't see your dc and maybe they have run off momentarily, I was furious because they didn't realise he was missing!!! Apparently it was only because the park ranger stopped a truck they had got on to take them to a different part of the park and asked if anyone was missing this child by name that they realised. When a woman turned up to collect him she immediately was remonstrating him and he was obviously sad, upset and scared No cuddle, no anything.
I've no idea how long he was lost for - he told me he'd been lost a long time and I was with him for 25mins - how can you not realise you have lost a 3 yr old child in your care!! My children would have been upset and I'd have been beside myself.

Jesus.

I lost my niece at a local park for 10-15 minutes, when she was 2. After running around like a lunatic looking frantically, I found her on a park bench eating a biscuit.

Longest 10 minutes of my life, and I bawled my eyes out with relief when I found her.

And yes - always, always write my mobile number on kids' arms with instructions to 'Find a lady with kids and tell her to phone this number if you can't find me'.

Reading this made me feel physically sick - I lost one of my three when at a very busy local event - she was six and only out of sight for less than five minutes but I've never forgotten that feeling. I read someone else's comment about writing your mobile number on their arms - I did this every time we were somewhere busy with mine, just make sure you do it not too close to their wrist (otherwise might get accidentally washed off) and when you write it on, tell them it's your phone number in case it's needed. Also check it's still clear after a couple of hours, especially if very hot or going on water rides! I would also comment when we were out and about 'oh look, an event steward in a hi vis vest - that would be someone you could look for if you got lost'. To this day (kids now 11, 13 and 14) they see luminous jackets and walkie talkies as a sign of authority and potential help! Writing this now I realise I was probably over cautious, but I'd rather that than have something awful happen/almost happen, you know?
Glad you were there, OP, and hope the little one will be better supervised from now on.

Reading this has made me tense up. Thank you for getting involved, and not making excuses.

I'm very impressed by the way you and the park handled this. It could have ended so differently.

Something is seriously wrong here. How can you not realise a child aged 3 and thus incredibly vulnerable is missing for 25 minutes while out in a public place? And the child in question was actually gone for longer than that. What's more, how can you not have any reaction when rangers descend to reunite you with him?

I don't think I would feel comfortable just being relieved that he was safe and reunited with his parents, and leaving it there. I am not usually someone who advocates getting authorities involved, but something is really not right. Maybe give SS a ring, as you know the Mum's name and contact details and let them use their professional judgement?

shovetheholly - it wasn't the parents who lost he little boy.

He was out with friends of his mum.

OP - glad you stepped in to look out for the little lad. And very glad the Rangers seem to have told this "friend" off for losing the boy and not noticing

I lost DS3 age 4 in the house before today and completely lost it.

Logically, I knew he was hiding from me and I'd find him eventually (not possible to get out the house unless via alien abduction!) but I still panicked and was running round the house. I burst into tears when he finally exited his hiding place

YANBU OP. I find going out with my boys so stressful because I'm constantly being watchful and making sure I know where they are - and they still get lost sometimes!

Felicia - that reminds me of when I lost ds1 in the house when he was six months old. I'd left him on the bean bag or bouncy chair and gone to get a drink. When I came back he was gone. My heart stopped. My blood went cold. Eyes pricked with tears. Swore. Then looked at the other option and there he was .

Thanks for clearing that up Salmo - I didn't read the thread properly, sorry!