It was only 30 minutes…maybe 45 but it was enough knowing that every minute the radius was multiplying. Ella ran away…again. But this time, she got further than ever before. I had her at work with me, turned my back for a couple minutes and BOOM! – she was gone. Usually I find her – she has wandered into an office or at worst, to the end of the parking lot but this time she was no where to be found. The whole staff, like the allstars that they are, began to search. The church where I work is situated on the University of British Columbia campus, which poses many problems. For starters, it backs onto the Pacific Spirit Park – trees, trails, hiding places. On the other side is University Boulevard, the main route in and out of campus busy with buses, cars, cyclists, you name it. I called 911 for the first time for one of my children. Ben was out searching by car and eventually found her, almost a kilometer away, where a kind cyclist was staying with her until her neglectful caregivers were located.
And that is just it. Yes, I feel awful that on my watch, Ella went missing. But as I sat giving my information to the police officer who had responded to the multiple calls reporting a random little girl walking a doll stroller up University Blvd, I felt the eyes of judgment on me.
“So what happened?”
“Yes, I was neglecting my child for two minutes and she went for a walk. I turned my back. I wasn’t watching her. I wasn’t caring for her. I was doing work.”
Of course one of the first things I did was post it on the UBC group on Facebook, and on my wall. And while I am so grateful for the people that prayed for her safe return or kept an eye out for her, I felt the eyes of judgment from parents of typical children…you know, the ones who don’t run away.
I am so thankful we found her.
I am so thankful that there are so many kind, honest, vigilant people out there taking notice of a little girl walking all by herself.
I am thankful for police who take time to look into such matters.
And I especially thankful for all the prayers that went up the moment I said she was missing.
Most days parenting Ella, is just like parenting any other child but on days like to today, I am grateful for a little extra support through people who care…and through GPS technology which was purchased…today….finally.
Leave A Reply