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Gretchen Lancour
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Gretchen Lancour is a writer, radio host, and toddler wrangler. She enjoys kids, animals, books, music, and hugs. She does not care for spiders, papercuts, onions, or math. Gretchen lives in San Francisco's North Beach District with her husband and son....
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Now where did I put that kid?

Gretchen Lancour

Monday, August, 4, 2008
I used to think Home Alone was a rather ridiculous premise, but after reading this story I may have to reconsider.

I got separated from my mother once in a department store when I was five years old.  I was one of those kids with LRT (Low Retail Tolerance) and spent most of the shopping experience hiding in big round racks of clothing.  On this occasion, I recall reaching for a lady hand, giving it a tug that said ‘can we please leave?’ then looking up to see the lady hand was attached to the wrong lady.  I dropped the hand, looked around to discover my mom was nowhere in sight, and quickly burst into tears.  Luckily, the wrong lady was also a nice lady and she assured me we would find my mother, which we did.  I’ve never forgotten the dreaded Lost feeling though.  Five-year-old me was positive my mother was gone and I would never see her again.  I was also convinced the mannequins came to life at night and would get me.  I’d have to sleep under a big round rack of clothing, and live on Orange Julius and half-eaten scraps from the Hot Sam’s Pretzel stand.

Have you ever left your child behind?  Were you ever misplaced when you were a kid?
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Shoegirl1970
Shoegirl1970
YES!
Posted Mon, 08/04/2008 - 23:43
My parents and two sisters forgot me after our meeting (religious) when I was a little girl, around 4. I remember coming home and my father telling me that next time THEY forgot me I was going to get a spanking. I remember thinking, even then at that age, how ridiculous that sounded.
alison skirtboston
alison skirtboston
lost in the crowd
Posted Wed, 08/06/2008 - 13:31
as one of seven siblings, I remember getting lost in the supermarket, but it was only mildly traumatic (that was back when kids weren't terrorized by the thought of talking to strangers/asking for help). However, as a mom, I've "lost" each of my kids once, at least, and THAT's traumatic. One accidentally followed another family off a crowded beach, but only got as far as the gate when she realized it wasn't her family... I found here there, sobbing, not sure whether we'd left or were still on the beach. It was awful. The horrible irony was that I was observing the lifeguards' response to a missing child (and reporting on it for a newspaper).