Maybe it is the North American in me, maybe I have watched one to many episodes of Law and Order, but I have a very real fear that someone is going to snatch my girls.
It is because of this that when we are in public, I am the mom whose kids are always holding her hand, or within one meter of her.
But at home, I’m generally more relaxed.
We live in a very safe neighbourhood, we know all our neighbours, the back garden is completely fenced in and backs on to lots of open fields (as opposed to scary forests).
And now that Alara is four, I let her play outside without going out there with her.
Despite knowing that it would be impossible for anything to happen to Alara if she is outside in the backyard alone, yesterday, I had a big scare.
I had been sitting inside in the living room with Ela, talking on the phone, when I went outside, and there was no Alara.
I couldn’t see her anywhere.
Panic.
I screamed for her, running all over the back garden, all over the house. I couldn’t find her anywhere.
I called Seyfi at work and told him to call the police.
I screamed and screamed for her, looking everywhere I could think.
Can you picture it? The foreigner, carrying her baby and screaming for her child?
I was screaming so loud the the neighbours two doors down came over to see what was wrong. When I explained the situation, you could see the fear in her eyes. She took Ela so I could look everywhere again.
I went back to the back yard, there was Alara, crying.
Guess where she had been…
She fell asleep under some cushions on the bench swing in the back, she hadn’t heard me.
She was fine.
After I had called Seyfi to tell him everything was fine, that I had finally found her, I could believe how I had felt.
The panic and fear that took over was shocking. I would never wish those feelings on anyone. I’m so happy that it all turned out fine in the end, but I truly feel for those parents who live through a missing child situation.
I think I had become too comfortable, I should have been checking on her more, now I know, I’ve learned my lesson, and I will appreciate my family even more.
Street Smart Mom 