We decided to run a few errands and then go to Target where my son would spend his Kindergarten graduation money on toys. It was a deal and we shook on it. He’d uncomplainingly come with me and then, we’d run over to the toy section at Target.
We went to Kohl’s first. It just happens to be conveniently located in the same strip mall. Generally, I hate Kohl’s for clothes for me. But, since the *whispers* weight gain, I won’t spend a lot of money on clothing for myself.
I dragged my little feller to the WOMAN section. I was checking out the clothes, assuming my son was standing close to me. I didn’t pay attention for one minute. In ONE MINUTE, I looked over some humungous purple shirt and lost my child. That was all it took.
He was gone.
I went to the toy section, assuming that he had found his way over there.
Nothing.
I went to where the toy section would be at the Kohl’s by our house, the one I would usually go to.
Nothing.
I started running up and down the aisles, screaming his name like a lunatic.
Nothing.
I started to shake. I’m shaking now as I think about this. I was THAT scared.
I couldn’t find my son. Tears started streaming down my face as the worse care scenario started flashing through my mind.
I started running up and down the aisles again, revisiting toy section again. By now, I was screaming his name. Shrilly. And almost hysterically crying.
Not one person looked up from their shopping.
Not one person asked if they could help me.
Not one person did anything.
And there were a LOT of people in this store.
Finally, I decided to head up front, just in case someone was going to kidnap him. That way, I could tackle the fucker. Also, I was going to go seek help from the cashier because there was no one in the back where customer service is.
As I’m walking, shaking and sobbing my way to the front of the store, a woman FINALLY stops me and asks me if I needed help. I told her what happened and she walked with me to the front of the store where I got some in-store assistance.
Code Yellow.
That’s the code for a missing child in the store.
Code Yellow.
Cashiers, stock people, and managers came running up to the front.
We found him. Quickly.
He was standing by the luggage. Hysterically crying and shaking.
He was shaken and stirred but he was safe. He thought he knew where the toys were and that I would come and get him. But he didn’t and before he knew it, he was lost.
He now knows NEVER to leave my side again. Even though I had assumed he knew that to begin with.
The most unreal thing, in my opinion, was not one person looked up to help a hysterical woman who was running around crying and looking for her child.
Not one person asked a little boy who was wandering around crying and parent-less if they could help him.
Not one person stopped what they were doing when a Code Yellow and attention all Kohl’s team members was announced over the speakers.
So do me a favor. If you ever hear Code Yellow in a store. And you know it’s because a child is missing…
Be the one person that helps.
I know that I would.
Yes, I still took him to Target. And yes, I let him buy a toy. I even paid for part of it.
Because I was so relieved Code Yellow didn’t turn into an Amber Alert.
Wow. Thank goodness he is safe. People can be such douchebags.
Oh I feel for you… been there. And yeah… it’s amazing how many people just don’t want to be bothered with your personal tragedy. You could be bleeding and lying in the aisle and at least one person would step over you.
Unbelievable.
Ps… I love your guts.
Kelly@Childhood´s last blog post ..Hershey’s S’Mores… Beyond the Campfire
There is no feeling like the feeling you get when you think your child is gone. Took me weeks to get over it when that happened with my daughter.
I feel for you, and a pox upon every numbskull in that store who didn’t care enough to find out what was going on. Good grief.
Joni Golden´s last blog post ..Awareness
That is so scary. I always stop if I see a child crying with no parent that I can see, and I would have totally helped you in the store too. I know how fast a child can get away from you because it happened with my mother when my brother was TWO. He was gone so fast and it was so scary.
Jennifer´s last blog post ..The List
Yikes! How traumatic! I’m so glad you found him.
People suck.
Melisa with one S (PH)´s last blog post ..A Rant On Raising Children Which Isn’t Meant To Be A Rant…
Oh good Lord! Are you f****ing kidding me? People just walked by? A screaming mother and a crying child? What in the world is wrong with people?
I did not know that Code Yellow meant a child was missing in Kohl’s-speak. But you can bet I’ll be paying close attention to any announcements from here on out.
Sorry for your trauma today and I’m sorry that people suck that much – it’s really depressing.
Gigi´s last blog post ..Is it just me??
How SCARY!! I’ve not gone through the lost child scenario as a parent but I vividly remember getting st at Disney World when I was 5 years old. My mom had prepared me for what to do and I did remember and followed what she said but it was still scary as hell. And when my turn comes to go through it as a parent… *shudder*
That said… my husband and I tend to always get over involved. When we see upset people, we stay close and step in if we feel we should. If we see a child that seems upset… a child alone… we keep an eye until we know the child is ok or reunited. I’ve helped several lost kids.
BTW- best advice I ever got on teaching a child what to do when lost is teach them to find another Mommy and ask for help. A woman is more likely to follow through and stay with the child until the reunion between parent and child.
Eternal Lizdom´s last blog post ..TGIF
I found a child by the side of the road. Yes. You read that right. I found a CHILD by the side of the ROAD.
I don’t know how many people must have breezed past her before another lady and I stopped at the same time to see what a toddler was doing by the side of the VERY BUSY road BY HERSELF.
I mean. I would ALWAYS stop and see what a child was crying about, store, road, wherever. A scared kid is a scared kid and I can’t tell you how many of ’em I’ve taken back to Mom and Dad. Usually, Mom and Dad aren’t even NICE to me about it. Which, um, POOR KID.
Aunt Becky´s last blog post ..Scavenge ME!
OMG, how scary!! And I can’t believe that not one single person looked up to help either you or him – that is the scariest part, I think. I’m so glad that everything turned out ok. I would have been livid too – what if it had been one of their children? Geesh. You don’t mess around when there’s a a lost child. Ever.
Great post, Melissa!
Deb – Mom of 3 Girls´s last blog post ..My husband is radioactive?
That is scary. I know that I always stop if I see a child alone that looks younger than 8 or 9 and I stand there until I see an adult for that child. If I don’t see an adult in less than 5 minutes, (2 if the child is visibly upset) I find someone in the store to help.
I have also had the kids wander off in the store. Makes me crazy.
Another Suburban Mom´s last blog post ..Friday Foodie- Oreo Fluff Edition
My God. My heart was in my throat just reading this, so I cannot even imagine. How horrifying that nobody helped. There are no words for that, truly.
So very glad everyone is safe!
Melissa´s last blog post ..Hey, Bloggiesta!
Oh Melissa – Your poor heart!! I’m giving you a virtual hug!! and you know what- whenever I see a kid roaming about – I ALWAYS ask him/her where their mom is – believe me – once a stranger starts talking to a kid – they scoot on back to their parents
How sad that people couldn’t be bothered to help you. What is wrong with people?
Juli Ryan´s last blog post ..In which our heroine returns from an absence forced on her by the demands of Real Life and is reunited with her beloved blog on the internet.
Amazing how quickly the cortisol can pulse through our veins, right?! I have felt those feelings. It’s in moments like these that women can lift a car to free an injured person.
I’ve felt so powerless if I can’t see my bird wherever we are because unlike most kids, she won’t respond when I call her name. Sucks. Makes me extra super-duper vigilant.
Really glad the store employees responded to the ‘code yellow’ to help you find him. The rest of those suckers suck.
Dani G´s last blog post ..Random Thought Thursday
I am so sorry this happened to you. It’s every parents nightmare and has happened to all of us. I live in Abbey, BC and when I lost my son at Walmart they called it out Code Adam here for Adam Walsh the boy who went missing from a sears and was later found. So yes, it’s sad that nobody not only stopped to ask you if you needed help. But to not ask a little boy that is sick.
I’m glad the store helped you and your son is okay.
JP @ Rants n’ Rascals´s last blog post ..sometimes it hurts being a mother
So scary for you. and Him. I cant imagine. So glad in all worked out in the end and I agree… PEOPLE need to pay attention! Its awful.
Jenn´s last blog post ..Friday Fragments~ 6/11
I am so glad he was found and that this ended on a good note. I had the same thing happen with my oldest when she was four years old — and in Kohl’s no less! Same thing, the store announced a CODE SOMETHING. We found her huddled and crying in the mens department. We were shopping for bedding and in the moments it took me to reach deep into a display shelf to pull out a comforter, she had vanished.
I’m always amazed at how the general population totally ignores people who are in obvious distress.
MomZombie´s last blog post ..Gran Torino, belatedly
Can’t believe people would not ask to help!!!! That is very sad! Sorry you had to go through that!
Oh, this is my worst nightmare! And all of those people ought to be ashamed of themselves- especially the employees- for not asking if you need help. Jeez.
The Sweetest´s last blog post ..Two Going On Thirteen
How absolutely frightening! Very glad he was found quickly, and kudos to the store for doing something so quickly
Jeanette´s last blog post ..Wenchy turns 14 again
I wish I’d been there…first of all, I would have helped you the instant you showed panic on your face, or uttered a name in fear…and I would have personally gotten on the intercom and berated every single one of those shoppers who felt it their duty to IGNORE a panic-stricken mom looking for her lost child in a huge store.
My eyes were watering, just reading the panic in your words…I have been there…I know how terrifying the feeling is, and how you can’t squeeze them hard enough once you have them back in your grasp. You want to be firm with them, but that Mommy-relief just takes over, and you can’t do anything but squish the life out of them.
HUGS, Lovey….Big Fat Smooshy Mommy Hugs…it’s all I know how to give.
WTF is wrong with people?!?!??! I cannot even imagine that not a single person looked up to help you find your son. I don’t know what is more scary….the thought of losing a child or losing a child and no one fucking cares.
It all ended well so that’s what counts. Hugs my friend.
It’s Code Adam here in IN too. When I worked at wal-mart we all had “jobs” when a code adam was called. Every exit/bathroom was covered and every employee was on the lookout. It only happened once the whole time I worked there, but even when it’s not your child it is scary as hell.
The people in your Kohl’s suck big time.
So scary and thank goodness this story has a happy ending! Thank you for writing about it. We briefly lost our son at the zoo. It was surreal and crazy and similar to what you describe (although it was off-season and not too many people around). OH, my god, I’m getting palpitations just remembering it. Whew. Thanks for sharing.
Marian´s last blog post ..girlfriend time
I have no words. How anyone could NOT react to a mother calling for her child, or especially the poor crying obviously lost child!!! Idiots. Karma is a vengeful being and I don’t like to think about the kind of retribution these folks just brought on themselves.
Oh wait, it seems I had words after all.
I’m so glad the store at least had a plan in place to help.
Breathe, sweetie!!!