Newsflash!!!!

Well, you'll be able to say you read it here first. I'm proud to announce that next quarter, in the neighborhood newsletter, I will be featured as "Worst Mother of the Year" ! I'm sure the editor will soon call to request a photo of me to go along with the article about my latest super-horrible-mom event. So that you will be in the know, the article will most likely read something like this:

"An area mother (who should know better) was startled to realize her naivity and foolishness today, when she mistakenly trusted the judgement of her 3 and 5 year-old children. "I thought it was an okay idea," she admitted later, "But I guess not." Witnesses in the neighborhood say it was just a story of "good deed gone bad," and they don't really feel that her actions were totally stupid, "just thoughtless."

Mrs. K reveals that while her preschoolers were occupied playing in the house, she told them she needed to run a concession stand donation over to the pool. The pool is less than 100 yards away, and she reportedly did tell the children to stay in the house and locked the front doors. She planned to be absent from the home for less than five minutes and was confident that they would not leave the gated back yard. Mrs. K even claims to have put the dog out in back to "watch over things" just in case.

Watchful neighbors confirmed that Mrs. K was over at the pool less than five minutes, and they did see her rush back over to the home and go inside. However, within seconds, they saw her frantically running through the side and back yards, screaming her children's names with a phone up to her ear. An anonymous neighbor reports "I saw the little girl wandering in front of the house, but I thought the mother must be nearby. Next I saw the mother running around like a crazy person, looking up and down the street and yelling into her phone, so I came over to help."

Mrs. K reports that she came back from the pool, into the home, only to find it empty of her children. They were nowhere to be found--not in the backyard either--and the dog was cheerfully talking to another dog at the fence. She was shocked that they would have the boldness to leave the house as they tended to be cautious scaredy-cats. She confirmed that the front and back doors were still locked, but they must have left through the side garage door. She re-tells that she continued to yell for them, but with no answer and ran around to leave the gated backyard to go to scour the front. It is at this point that she found her five year-old son, standing outside of the gate on side of the house looking scared. "Where's Lydia?!" she asked, and the boy reportedly said, "She left by herself."

Soon after, Mrs. K was seen running in circles in her driveway, gesturing wildly to her neighbor across the street, alternatly yelling her daughter's name, and "I can't find Lydia!" into the phone to another eager-to-help neighbor.

Just as Mrs. K and her attentive neighbor set out to track down the missing 3 year-old, they saw another fellow mom walking toward the house from the pool carrying the missing little girl. Mrs. K was overjoyed to see her and thanked her friend profusely for being so alert. The anonymous rescuing neighbor was calm and level-headed. If she had not recognized the little girl and been thinking on her feet, who knows what would have happened! "I knew my neighbor had rushed back to the house, and then saw the little girl. She had to cross the street to get to the pool! Mom and daugheter must have somehow crossed paths and I knew my friend didn't know the little one was here."

Mrs. K says she has learned her lesson. She will continue to run nearby errands, but with the preschoolers chained to her hip. She will work harder to stress that the kids don't make their own rules....Lydia claims she was going to find mom, Ben claims he let Lydia out of the gate because "she wanted to leave!" She will give Lydia more of the "you freaked Mommy out" lectures, stranger danger and the "you could get hit by a car" info. And, she will encourage the boys and the dog that it is their JOB to watch out for their little sister! Ben announced later, "Mom while you were over there, I was in charge, how did I do?" WHAT?!

Most of all, Mrs. K is thankful for her faithful neighbors who watch out for others and help in the time of need, and thankful for God watching over her children despite the stupid-mom mistakes!

For more details, please call. Congratulations Mrs. K! You will see her award plague hanging from her mailbox. Honk when you drive by."


Well, unfortunately true story. Fortunately, it turned out fine and that is why I can sit here and be funny about it. It is once again, one of that moments that leaves you petrified, humiliated, and with thoughts of doom in your mind. I do LOVE my neighbors...they are wonderful and so happy that we are able to help one another. Hopefully someday I will be able to return the favor (although I pray not looking for a lost child).

Overall, Ben was ashamed that he had permitted her to leave. Lydia was extremely sad and frightened following our serious talk about obeying mom's instructions and safety. AND, Mommy is abundantly thankful that I'm not at this momemnt missing my child....and now realizes the mistake in trust and their ability to make sensible choices.....NOW, to find locks for those backyard gates!