Well, yesterday was a first. I understand parenting is full of firsts, but yesterday was not necessarily a first that I’m proud of. It was the first time I forgot my child…
The morning was off to a rocky start to begin with. I rarely have early morning meetings, but yesterday was that rare occurrence. Hindsight, I should have knocked out my grocery shopping while I was out but I decided to come back home and grab the three little hooligans.
Off to Aldi we went. By the way, are you an Aldi shopper? Aldi is somewhat new for me, and I love it. If you didn’t know, Aldi and Trader Joe’s are owned by the same company so you will see some of the similar brands at each retailer. I’m a fan of both.
Our Trader Joe’s is a little further away, so I resorted to Aldi yesterday morning. Pulled up. Immediately realized I didn’t have a quarter for the shopping cart. Dudes, I get it. I know I could have asked for a quarter, but I literally had 4 items to purchase so between myself and the three hooligans I figured we could pull it off without a hitch.
- Bread.
- Fruit.
- Yogurt.
- Cheese.
- Pretzels.
That completed our list, so we moseyed on over to the checkout. Adam was starting to throw a fit because I wouldn’t let him open my wallet. Oh, did I mention I wasn’t carrying a purse? No sir, not yesterday when I felt slightly invincible shopping with three kids and no shopping cart.
I paid the cashier who was already side eyeing me for the toddler who was laying completely flat on his back at the end of the conveyer belt screaming. Whatevs.
I loaded up all the groceries into one of those large cardboard boxes and headed to the door. We reached the minivan. Oh, have I mentioned to you I am now the proud owner of a minivan? BOOM! Never looking back. I loaded up the minivan and closed the trunk as I heard this man yelling from the store entrance.
“Ma’am! Ma’am!” Surely this man wasn’t referring to me. Obviously, I was able to get out of the store without too many casualties. Just to be safe, I turned around and looked at the man.
“Ma’am! I think you forgot your child in the store!” I whipped around and did a quick headcount of my children and sure enough one was missing. I bolted for the door, pushing the man aside. Sorry, man.
One foot inside Aldi and I heard the screams. I glanced down the line of cashiers and there he was. Standing by the water fountains, crying his head off. I ran toward Adam and caught yet another stank eye from the judgy cashier, swooped him up and surfboard carried him out of the store as he continued to scream bloody murder.
He cried and I cried almost the entire way home thinking how awful I am for leaving my child. I know, I know, I’m not a terrible parent…yet it wasn’t my proudest parenting moment either.
Alright mamas!! Spill the beans! Have you ever left your child somewhere before? Please say yes…
JoAnne Pestel
April 25, 2019 at 5:51 pmWE LOST ANGIE AT THE STATE FAIR IN THE COLISEUM, SHE WENT RIGHT AND WE WENT LEFT. SHE FOUND A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER AND WAS FINE, UNKNOWN TO US. WE SEARCHED THAT DARN BUILDING FOR OVER AN HOUR UNTIL WE HEARD THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT A LOST LITTLE GIRL NAMED ANGIE PESTEL. I NEVER FELT SO HORRIBLE AS I DID THAT DAY.
Shanisty
April 25, 2019 at 6:04 pmOh no!!! It certainly does happen. I’m glad all was well!
Darlene G
April 25, 2019 at 6:15 pmWhen Will was about 8 or 9, he went inside a closet at our church and closed the door. The door automatically locks when closed. He has Down Syndrome and thought it was funny to hide in various places. We searched the building, grounds, fields nearby- he was nowhere to be found. I was in a panic. After awhile, someone heard him knocking on the door from inside the closet, located someone with a key, and let the stinker out. It never deterred him from continuing to play hide-and-seek without asking anyone else to play….
Sue
April 25, 2019 at 11:59 pmOne of the moms at my daughter’s preschool had 4 little boys. She popped them in the minivan ( hint you’ve now been warned) then opened the lift gate to put some things in the back. Started chatting with another mom, one kid jumped out lift gate ran back into school. She closed up car drove home then realized she was missing one. It happened twice. That’s why I’ve warned you to be one lookout lol
Shanisty
April 26, 2019 at 1:12 pmhahah! Oh, my! I don’t think mine are quite that bold…. yet, but I will heed the warning 🙂
Anita Fields
April 26, 2019 at 11:08 amI have forgot to pick my son up from school. Back in the day when kindergarten was only 1/2 a day. School called and ask if I was going to pick him up since he was the only one left at school. It happens!!
Shanisty
April 26, 2019 at 1:13 pmMy son is in 1/2 day kindergarten! I honest to goodness have to set a daily timer to pick them up and drop them off….. yow! haha
Erin Tice
April 26, 2019 at 6:22 pmI haven’t lost one yet but I have locked one in the car on a 100 degree Texas day and had to call the fire department to break into my car! It’s a rite of passage!!
Shanisty
April 27, 2019 at 2:38 pmoh my goodness!!! That is awful, yet sooooo understandable 🙂