Just lost ds2 at school - found him again, but I'm still shaking.

[marthamoo]

I think that just reduced my life expectancy by 10 years at least. Went to pick ds1 up at school and ds2 ran off (as he always does) to play in the 'garden' bit of the playground. Then I saw him disappear off round the side of the school - in the direction of the gate we go out of to go home. Followed him - got round the front of the school: no ds2 (the school is set in the middle of the grounds - so you can get round all sides, and there are three gates in the boundary walls. Looked in all the normal places - he hides behind a plant pot by the front door and jumps out to 'scare' me: but he wasn't there. Looked in the trees at the front of the school: no ds2. Gate to the carpark was open so I looked in there...no. Went to pre-school (it's in the grounds) - he wasn't there either. Playground was nearly empty by now and I could feel the panic rising. I sent ds1 round the back of the school, and I carried on looking at the front (was mentally describing him to the Police by this stage - "he's nearly 4 and he's dressed as Spiderman.")

Went round the back again (running now) and ds1 was there, panic all over his face, "he's not here, Mum." Couldn't see a soul anywhere. I said "Ok, we're going to the office - come on." Then, from miles away across the playground - "He's here! Mrs moo! He's here!" Two Mums of children from ds1's year had got him - they said he'd been careering round the playground, they didn't know who he was because he was dressed as Spiderman, then he suddenly realised he was on his own, took his mask off, said "Mummy?" and burst into tears. One of them said to him - "are you H?" and he said yes - but refused to hold her hand to come and look for me, and just ran off again sobbing.

I just picked him up - he was crying really hard "I was l..l...lost Mummy!" then ds1 burst into tears, bless him - so of course I burst into tears. The other two Mums were hugging ds1, and patting my back, and going "it's OK - he's OK."

Horrible, horrible feeling. It was probably only about five minutes but it felt like 5 hours...

Awful Moo! That sick feeling hitting the pit of your stomach!

Glad he was OK and came to no harm

I've had bad dreams of me losing my ds, must have been really scary for you.

Poor you !!
That awful panicky feeling shudders
Glad you found him and he's alright- make yourself a stiff drink !

I still haven't completely regained my equilibrium. I feel a couple of glasses of wine coming on.

how old mm?
i lost ds3 ( who crossed ar oad ffs) itn eh sumnmer

awful
still havent told dh

oh marthamoo I sympathise honey. I lost ds1 (7) on the beach this summer for about 5 minutes. The longest 5 minutes of my life.

That was August and I STILL feel bad !

He'll be 4 in December, cod.

Oh Lord, kayleigh - was hoping to feel better sooner than that

ah yousee 4 that seems geriatric compared to my 2 year old!!
but yes it mkaes no odds - the feeling of stomach churning " looking out for a white van speeding away" is the same.

I am a much, much worse mummy than that.

I lost my dd (2 at the time) without even noticing. Only when another parent brought her back, saying she'd found her in the carpark (right next to a v.fast road) that I realised.

Oh. My. God.

Glad all is well now, mm. Stiff drink a medical necessity.

yes sorry mine was in the summer oto k

k are yo coming on monday

marthamoo, lost ds1 17 years ago and can still re-call every single one of those long 5 minutes......

Oh dear Moo, I remember that feeling well from losing Ds in the playground a few weeks ago.

Glad to hear he was found safe and well

oh jesus moo, how awful. There must truly be no worse feeling in the world. Thank god it all ended up ok.

Yes Moo, thank goodness you found him--I would have been shrieking like a psycho..I am sure you will never forget that feeling too. Drinks are in order all around!

DH and I are volunteer lifeguards. We get LOADS of incidents with lost or found children at the beach. After spending years saying "why can't people look after their children", I realised that it isn't that easy when we lost dd on the beach when she was 15m! She had crawled into a sandcastle and we couldn't see her. She was missing probably no more than a minute. Heart stopping isn't it?

Half a bottle of wine and I am slightly more mellow. Thanks for all kind thoughts.

Redtartanlass - I rang my Mum for sympathy and instead was regaled with stories of all my brother's disappearances...he's 33 now. I guess you never forget that feeling of utter terror.