What was this parent thinking?

[mi*vida*loca]

Please tell me you're kidding?

The whole reason places have lost-child plans is because it's SO easy to lose track of parents/kids while in crowded places. Disney has a terrific way of dealing with things because they get so much practice.

To this day DH has a soft spot for Captain Hook because, back in the late 70s his family was at Disneyland, DH's face was in a map and his family walked away, not realizing he wasn't with them for quite a bit. He put the map down and saw no one. Was very upset. Hook came up to him and sat with him until his parents came back.

I actually walked into Voyage of the Little Mermaid with someone's 3 year old. They were in line behind us and I looked down and realized we had an extra kid. I looked back and said "who's kid is this." The mom looked down, counter her kids and said "oh he's mine!" We laughed about it but he was seriously with us for about 2-3 minutes before anyone noticed.

Crap happens. Kids wander off. I've had my share of mini strokes when I can't spot my kids but it happens.

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm not typically one to judge parents, we've all made mistakes. And no, we don't know what happened here. Maybe the child did wander off on her own, that happens. And it's one of those grey-haired, heart attack moments for parents.

But I'll say this - there is NO excuse, NONE, for intentionally leaving a child that young unattended at a place like Disney World. It's nothing but irresponsible parenting. Responsible parenting is keeping a child that young BY YOUR SIDE, the whole time.

Saying things like "Oh well as long as I can keep her in sight it doesn't matter if she's 5, 10 feet away" is sad (unless it's a very empty area, and you have an extremely clear line of sight, path to the child... such as the situation where the kid was playing on the tracks I'm thinking more along the lines of leaving your kid to go pay at a check out in a store with a lot of people around). Because, as many of us can attest and have experienced - it only takes that split second when you turn your head around to dig out your debit card, or pay, or grab your bag, or look at the guy that just bumped you, for a young child to wander off, for you to lose view of them. And those 5, 10, 15 feet, are now that much extra distance between you and your child that you have to try and cover to find them.

You/they need to go to the bathroom? You go with them. You want to pay for something? You take them with you. Too bad if it's inconvenient - you're a parent, you signed up for a lifetime of inconvenient, lol. They're acting up and need a time out - you take them with you to one of the rest areas and do your time out there. Or sit them on a bench and stand in front of them, sit them in the stroller etc... I don't care where you do it really, as long as you are right there with them.


Good for you OP, for looking out for the child, and it's nice to hear that the CMs are so helpful in such situations.

 

[SeanTomorrow]

Wasn't really thinking about a kidnapping although that is on the outside realm of possibility. A kid that young could wander off and get involved in a hazardous situation.

I understand.

But if I had to pick one place in the earth with (1) the lowest chance of stranger kidnapping, and (2) had the fewest hazards for a 3 year old and (3) the highest number of employees trained to keep children safe and happy, I couldn't do much better than Epcot. Especially if my child had been taught, with practice, to stay in one place for a few minutes.

 

[Nata]

2. People from other cultures have different parenting styles. At DLR last May we had stopped walking for a second and a young boy around 2 ran over and grabbed DS 26 by the leg. We were shocked but looked up and saw another man in tan shorts walking towards us. The child went to the man and the man acted as though nothing was unusual.

I am sorry, I don't really understand why you were shocked. 2 year olds are not very good at respecting personal space. He probably just wanted to interact with your DS. Father was following the child. What is so unusual in this situation? I can see how you can be startled when someone grabs your leg, but you can't hold it against a toddler and I don't see any parenting mistake at all.

 

[HM]

It's like the dad that left his 3 or 4 yr old daughter in the climbing area at AK so that he could go ride Dinosaur. She was following us around and trying to play with our kids. After about 20 minutes of this and recognizing there didn't seem to be a parent around, we approached a CM to tell them the situation. We were ready to leave, but didn't feel like we could until we knew she'd be OK. Finally the father shows up and the CM talks to him and we find out what was up.

 

[MillauFr]

I am sorry, I don't really understand why you were shocked. 2 year olds are not very good at respecting personal space. He probably just wanted to interact with your DS. Father was following the child. What is so unusual in this situation? I can see how you can be startled when someone grabs your leg, but you can't hold it against a toddler and I don't see any parenting mistake at all.

Exactly. My son is 14 and has downs syndrome. He is always friendly with strangers and sometimes even gives them a hug. People might be startled at first and then usually smile and say hello.

 

[HM]

I am sorry, I don't really understand why you were shocked. 2 year olds are not very good at respecting personal space. He probably just wanted to interact with your DS. Father was following the child. What is so unusual in this situation? I can see how you can be startled when someone grabs your leg, but you can't hold it against a toddler and I don't see any parenting mistake at all.

Yes, I've had plenty of kids grab my leg over the years. They look for something that looks familiar and don't look up to see the face above them, thinking it's their parent. Usually they looked shocked when they realize you aren't.

 

[mirak]

As a parent of three active little boys, we've had a few brief "lost child" moments of panic. For those who say "there's no excuse for a child wondering off" - give me a break!

Having been there, if I see a small child who appears to be lost/unattended, I'll intervene, and I would hope a kind parent would do the same for me. There's no reason to be judgmental or embarrased about it - it's just good to lend a helping hand for the benefit of the kids.

 

[CinderElsa]

I'm not a parent but I would think that as a parent you'd constantly be aware of where your kiddo was, especially in such a public place.

Regardless, OP - you did the right thing! Better safe than sorry.

I don't think you understand how fast a small child can MOVE. Your kid sees an interesting character/balloon/rock while you're parking the stroller, and by the time you look up, they're halfway over there! Do not be fooled by the stubby legs!

Purposely leaving the child alone is one thing, but most toddlers could give Houdini a run for his money.

A lot of people like to say "not me, never me," but that's more of a way to reassure themselves that nothing terrible could ever happen to their child because they are somehow different from those other people. It's a defense mechanism. It's not reality.

 

[Nata]

As a parent of three active little boys, we've had a few brief "lost child" moments of panic. For those who say "there's no excuse for a child wondering off" - give me a break!

Having been there, if I see a small child who appears to be lost/unattended, I'll intervene, and I would hope a kind parent would do the same for me. There's no reason to be judgmental or embarrased about it - it's just good to lend a helping hand for the benefit of the kids.

Completely agree.

 

[minniemous]

I just do not agree with the "so easy to lose a child" Idea. I know things happen to well intentioned attentive parents in unique situations. However I have witnessed way too much non-attentive parenting at Disney World and in general to say it is mostly "easy" to lose a child.

It is easy..very easy when the child is not being watched over. If it was that easy I would never go to Disney World

 

[mshanson3121]

Purposely leaving the child alone is one thing, but most toddlers could give Houdini a run for his money.

LOL. Yup! That's the truth right there. My youngest is a master of getting into things she shouldn't, and getting out of things she's shouldn't.

 

[North of Mouse]

Wow...I never like my kids to be out of my eye sight when they are just playing in our front yard. Never mind being at Disney! I would totally freak out if my kids were out of my eye sight at Disney. I guess I am an over protective mother lol

Nope, not over protective at all - just doing what any mother should be doing. I can't imagine any 'true' loving mother/parent letting a small child out of sight beyond your own home. I am scared just thinking about it!

 

[mjkacmom]

I just do not agree with the "so easy to lose a child" Idea. I know things happen to well intentioned attentive parents in unique situations. However I have witnessed way too much non-attentive parenting at Disney World and in general to say it is mostly "easy" to lose a child.

It is easy..very easy when the child is not being watched over. If it was that easy I would never go to Disney World

Well, I found it very easy to lose a child, even being attentive! Ds12 was Houdini! Of course, I have 5 to watch over, which makes it a little more difficult, but he would be there, and then not be there.

My nephew is like that, too. My mom and I took my 5 kids, and my sister's 3 kids, to the beach. They were all in the ocean, body surfing (he was 8). All went out, all went in (we counted with each wave), we kept our eyes on him, purple goggles, all went out, then one was missing. We were staring at the surf the entire time (but must have blinked).

I ran to the lifeguard, had one of my kids run to our towel. Lifeguards cleared the ocean, no kid. My dd found him sitting on our towels.

I have a couple who would never leave my side - no chance of losing them. But when you have a runner? Wanderer? Magician? It happens.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I have to wonder, is it exhausting being so perfect all the time?

 

[Mamapapa]

You/they need to go to the bathroom? You go with them. You want to pay for something? You take them with you. Too bad if it's inconvenient - you're a parent, you signed up for a lifetime of inconvenient, lol.

I LOVE THIS!!!

But when you have a runner?

Yup, two of mine were runners. Parents of non-runners have no idea how lucky they are. I was blessed with one non-runner and I'm grateful for that!!!

 

[Mommee]

On our first trip to Disney World as a family, my son was almost lost. He was the oldest-8-,very responsible, and the last one I would expect to have it happen to. We stopped for a moment to do something, but DS kept going. DH called for him to stop but he couldn't hear us. When he realized he didn't see us, he panicked and took off at a dead run FORWARD trying to catch up to us. DH took off after him and caught him.

It would have been quite different if we had not had our eye on him at the exact moment this happened. A quick look down at the park map and he would've been out of sight.

To this day (he's in college now), my son insists on being at the back of the pack so he can keep us in his line of vision constantly.

Poor parenting is not required in order to lose your child unfortunately.

 

[karenklo]

We found a lost child in Epcot on our 2012 trip. Walking by a bench and a 6-7 yo boy was sobbing! My husband and I of course stopped to see if he was ok. Somehow he had gotten left behind. Large family trip, and when they split into two groups, the boy got left behind. Each group thought he was with the other! Thankfully he knew his mom's cell number. She did hang up on me the first two times I called, probably because she did not recognize the number. Finally in the third try her husband answered with attitude! Took him about 10 mins to get back to pick up his son. He felt so bad! It was nighttime and crowded, so I could see how easily he got lost. I did however wonder about all the other people who just walked past a little boy sobbing all alone on a bench....

 

[SeanTomorrow]

I'm not typically one to judge parents, we've all made mistakes. And no, we don't know what happened here. Maybe the child did wander off on her own, that happens. And it's one of those grey-haired, heart attack moments for parents.

But I'll say this - there is NO excuse, NONE, for intentionally leaving a child that young unattended at a place like Disney World. It's nothing but irresponsible parenting. Responsible parenting is keeping a child that young BY YOUR SIDE, the whole time.

Saying things like "Oh well as long as I can keep her in sight it doesn't matter if she's 5, 10 feet away" is sad (unless it's a very empty area, and you have an extremely clear line of sight, path to the child... such as the situation where the kid was playing on the tracks I'm thinking more along the lines of leaving your kid to go pay at a check out in a store with a lot of people around). Because, as many of us can attest and have experienced - it only takes that split second when you turn your head around to dig out your debit card, or pay, or grab your bag, or look at the guy that just bumped you, for a young child to wander off, for you to lose view of them. And those 5, 10, 15 feet, are now that much extra distance between you and your child that you have to try and cover to find them.

You/they need to go to the bathroom? You go with them. You want to pay for something? You take them with you. Too bad if it's inconvenient - you're a parent, you signed up for a lifetime of inconvenient, lol. They're acting up and need a time out - you take them with you to one of the rest areas and do your time out there. Or sit them on a bench and stand in front of them, sit them in the stroller etc... I don't care where you do it really, as long as you are right there with them.

So I take it you're not a fan of this:
http://www.freerangekids.com/

 

[disneyseniors]

I've got a funny "missing child" story. I know, I know, it sounds like an oxymoron, right? Our first family visit with kids, grandkids was several years ago and we stayed at Nickolodean (now is something else, I think?). We met in the dining area each morning for breakfast and to plan our day at the parks. It was an open area with an arcade directly across from us. You could look in there and see the kids easily. So when the grandkids finished they would go over there and play in sight. Ages were 11 to 3. The 3 y/o of course was not allowed to go. One morning, the older grandkids went to play in sight, and my daughter screamed, "oh no, where is Luke, where is he?" all panicked and voice raising, looking out at the arcade". Her husband very calmly said, " he's on your lap honey!" She was so panicked that she would lose him that she freaked out when she didn't see him with the other kids. To this day, Luke is now 15 y/o, she is teased about "losing Luke on her lap" Just wanted to lighten it up a bit