Jun. 2, 2006 - Stuff of legends (in our home anyways)
This story has become almost legendary in our family. We literally get requests for "the Buzz Lightyear story." So for your reading pleasure...
My middle son has a very active and vivid imagination. Often, when he was very little, he would get in character, sometimes with an accompanying costume, and for the day would only answer to the name of that person. This is an important detail...
On this particular day, I took a short trip to the mall to pick up a wedding gift for some friends. I had with me, my 4 yr old, my 2 yr old, and the baby in a stroller. The instructions I gave to the boys were to "stay right with mommy, hold onto the stroller." Generally speaking, this usually worked and I never felt the need for a "leash/harness."
While in the coffee shop to purchase a pound of coffee to go with the coffee grinder I selected, I relaxed my "hold onto the stroller" rule. The boys began to play peek-a boo around the half wall that separated the table area from the coffee counter. While I was trying to decide which flavor, my four year old began the patting and pecking that drives mothers to tune out their kids. "ummm, mommmy? mommy? MOMmy? mooommmyy...mom? MOM!" I finally turned to him, a bit exasperated and told him to wait. He replied, "Okaaaay, but this is kinda important." "What is it?" I asked. "Um, I can't find Ian. We were just playing at the wall but now he's gone." "WHAT!?"
Panic stricken, I looked all around the store...under tables, behind shelves, behind the counter/cash register. He really had dissappeared. "How long?" I asked my Nicholas (the 4 yr old). Of course, he had no concept of time, but I knew it couldn't have been more than a minute or two. How far can a two year old go in a few minutes?
We rushed out into the mall area to scan down the corridor both directions and as fate would have it, the mall was hosting a boat show. Very large water craft are not really conducive to seeing in any direction more that a few feet. So there I am, circling yachts like a shark, yelling, "Buzz? BUZZ LIGHTYEAR?! Ian? Buzz!!" I really did not want to leave the center court area, rationalizing that if he wandered off, he couldn't be far...
I spotted a security uniformed person a few storefronts down. By this time (again, not more than 5 minutes total have passed, but it seems like hours) I am nearing hyperventilation. I barrel down the mall towards her, pushing the stroller and dragging my 4 yr old yelling, "Mall Security? Are you with mall security?!"
She replies affirmatively and tells me to calm down. Our exchange went something like this...
"Ma'am. Ma'am, you need to calm down."
"I've LOST my two year old!!! You HAVE to help me find him!!"
"Okay, I can help, but you've got to calm down. Can you describe him for me? What was he wearing, hair color, eye color. etc.?"
I totally was drawing a blank...What WAS he wearing today? TALL?! I don't know!?
My four year old said calmly, "He's about this tall to me (gesturing), his hair is brown, his eyes are blue, and I helped dress him in a stripy shirt and jeans short pants today." He is still the calm rational one in the family. =)
So she walkie talkies a description out over the airwaves as I wait in anticipation. Almost immediately, the reply came. "We have a child matching that description, ask her what the child's name is."
"Ian, Ian Wilbanks." I said breathlessly.
At the same time, at the other end of the walkie talkie connection, they were asking,
"What's your name sweetie?"
The reply, loud and clear.."I BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!"
Huge sigh of relief, "That's my son! Where is he, can we go get him?"
"They'll bring him to us, we'll need to wait at the elevators."
As the doors opened, my son popped out his "wings" and "flew" out circling the stroller. "I BUZZ LIGHTYEAR, I flyed to the mall mommy!"
Praise the Lord for little old ladies who people watch! He was on the upper level at the opposite end of the mall when they stopped him and took him to a security person.
I went right across the street to Toys R Us and bought one of those dreaded leashes.
Easily the longest 5-7 minutes of my whole life!!
Comments
Jun. 2, 2006 - I have one of those!!!
Posted by quietcajun
I have a son named Ian also. He is now TEN, but when he was TWO he believed he was Buzz Lightyear too!
One day, he was wearing his favorite Buzz Lightyear shirt and decided to fly out a second story window!
He walked away with only a bit tongue, but waiting in the ER to make sure he had no internal injuries was one of the scariest things that has ever happened to me!
Jun. 3, 2006 - Thought you'd enjoy one of my archived posts!
Posted by Anonymous
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/quietcajun/56570
Does your Ian have red hair? Mine does!
Also, when Ian jumped out the window we joked that he did not Fly... he was falling with style! :)
Jun. 3, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cptwentworth
I feel for you! The same thing happened to me in the mall when my oldest, now 7, was just turned 2, and we had five adults with us! We each thought he was with the other one, turned around, and he's gone. Thank the Lord we found him about 30 feet from the store we were in, though. I'm sure it couldn't have been more than two minutes, but it seems like hours.
I'm glad your "Buzz" was found safe and sound!
Jun. 4, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by JenIG
eGADS that is horrifying. i've had a couple experiences like that and they are enough to send you into a coma.
Jun. 21, 2006 - I know the feeling!!
Posted by Mommy2fourCs
We lost our then 2 year at a Barney concert! DO you know how many 2 year olds are at a Barney concert, Holy Moly!!!! All I could think of was that I would never be able to leave without him, what if he came back and I wasnt there? There was so many people and kids it was so scary! I too couldnt remember what he was wearing, I was so panicked. Luckly we found him, well the security guys found him but we have him.
Jul. 15, 2006 - Good going mom.
Posted by NickNitro
Amusing. You remembered. . . Just Kidding! That is THE MOST classical story in are house! Also, you can remember, "BABY SITOR!" and the ever classic, "Razzatose!"
NickNitro
