Have you ever lost your kid in public or in a store because they ran away or hid from you?

My daughter (3 at the time) ran away from me once in the store. She went into the next aisle. I hid from her and watched her. She started crying when she ran back and I was not there. I came out and told her that if she ran away from me, she would get lost and have to go home with someone else. She didn't do it again.

Ds is 6 now but that is just not his personality, so no he never has.

But I have a neighbor that has a 3.5 year old that Still does this every day! She can't let him play in the backyard even with his 6 year old brother there because he will still just pick up and leave! I wonder when he's ever going to grow out of it!!

When DD was 2 yrs old she went through a stage where she thought it was grand fun to hide in a store and let us run around in a panic searching for her. She once did it to hubby in WalMart and they were about to call an Adam alert.

At first her hiding wasn't bad because I would be able to find her when she was giggling at the thought of hiding from me. However, as she got older she was much better at being quiet.

In the WalMart incident she was hiding inside the rounder right beside where my hubby was standing. As the incident escalated, she got afraid to reveal herself because she thought hubby would be mad then she got so scared she wet herself - to add insult to injury. I do believe, however, that was the last time she thought hiding was fun.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

My 4 year old was a houdini. He would disappear in nano-seconds. I finally explained that boys who disappear don't get to see mom and dad ever again. Haven't had any problems since then.

My 2 year old dd ran out of a store in the mall and was halfway to the food court. Fortunately another mom saw her escape and chased her down. I was so grateful to her.

I have seen kids pull this on other moms and always step in and help because I know how easily they escape!

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Dottie

Mom to Michael 6, Matthew 4, Katherine 2, Ellen 1, and new baby EDD 10/29/08

Totally ~ it was DD# 2 (go figure ) ~ she was 4. We were in Target, and she was RIGHT THERE 2 seconds ago, and then *poof* gone. The Target lady helped me looked (cause she had just seen her too) ~ and when we couldn't find her the lady radioed the emergency code. We finally found her back in the toys, playing ball with a mom and another little girl. Holy cow ~ talk about emotion...I was crying lik a baby because I was so happy, and angry, and embarrassed (what mother loses her kid???) and relieved, etc etc etc...

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My youngest went through a phase of doing this (running, not hiding, but he is extremely fast so it was scary) for a few months right after his second birthday. He really thought it was funny to do it after Sunday school when I was in my heels - it was like he knew I was slower than usual. He would slip out the door while people were standing there talking and I would have to bust through them to tear after him before he got to the parking lot. He was cackling all the way. People would stand there and gape and say "oh my gosh he is so FAST!" while I tried not to break an ankle trying to catch him. I am SO glad he stopped doing that. It made me crazy. One day he ran away from me at Target and straight into the parking lot and I had to leave my purse, my credit card, and all the stuff I had just bought to go catch him. I was so embarrassed when I came back to get my things and I apologized to the man in line behind me and he said "honey don't worry about a thing. I have 4 little boys and I feel your pain."

I know y'all remember my posts about him for a few months there when I really thought I might lose my mind trying to keep him alive every day. I thank God every day that he has calmed down and started listening and behaving.

My kids were not "runners"...it just wasn't their personality. If anything, they were like 'velcro', staying close to me. LOL

My son doesn't normally hide, but instead would just stop to look at things as I keep walking in a store. Finally after nagging over and over again I left him once when he stopped, went to the end of the aisle, turned and circled back around. When he noticed I was gone he got scared for a couple of seconds and he's MUCH better about walking with me in the stores now.

He did actually hide for real once at my church. It was one of my scariest moment's as a mom. We were in a safe place - my church! I had been at bible study. The church was somewhat empty, our bible study moms and their kids (the ones who hadn't left yet) plus a few workers plus a daycare - but they stick to one wing of the church. My 4 & 2 year olds ran off and turned a corner before me. Someone stopped me to give me something and by the time I turned the corner I only saw my 2 year old. All the moms were searching along with church workers and I think the day care teachers were already looking. I had someone circling around the outside of the church. It was only probably 5 minutes or so, but felt like an eternity! We were yelling his name... nothing. That was NOT like him. Like I mentioned above he doesn't normally hide - gets distracted maybe - but usually doesn't hids. FINALLY another mom found him hiding under a table in the kitchen they'd been remodeling. I was furious, estatic and embarrased all at the same time. We had a VERY SERIOUS talk and he hasn't done it since - thank goodness!

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

luckily both of my boys would never even think of doing that they would be to afraid now dd is 1 1/2 and she would in a heart beat she is a pistal man girls are so much different than boys.