Mummy's entry - How we nearly lost you!

There is always a first for Haye Li in many things in which we have never experienced with Rye Li. While I have yet to post many of the things she has done (and I blame it on time), this particular incident is the MOTHER of all her FIRSTs and a terrifying experience for us.

We lost her yesterday for more than 5 minutes. Actually, when we realized it, it was of course after 5 minutes and found her within a minute (which seems like forever to us then).

We were at Toys R Us and was somewhere in the middle of the store when we parted as a family. The girls were with their papa while I walked to the other side. Shortly after, Rye Li followed me and I assumed Haye Li was with her papa (there was a huge display in between us which blocked our view). I actually was sort of contemplating whether to inform hubby or not but I brushed it aside. A huge mistake on my side as after 5 minutes or so while browsing the store further, hubby came to us and went “Where’s mei-mei?”

I instantly replied “I thought she’s with you!”

Immediately, as on cue, hubby went to one direction and shouting “mei-mei” while I went opposite and traced back our steps screaming for her. I made sure Rye Li went with hubs.

My heart dropped big time while screaming for her in the store and of course at every aisle I looked, she wasn’t there. Flashes of stuff ran through my mind and even viewing the recordings on CCTV came to my mind (although I remembered one of the conversations I had with a client that “by the time you view recordings, it’s always too late!”)

Before I could even panic big time (was at the verge of crying already!), I approached near the entrance of the store and saw hubby carrying and hugging a very terrified crying toddler. It was a huge relief to see her and at the same time I went “Mummy was so scared already” and hubby went “It’s okay as long as she’s alright!” and soothed her from her sobbing. I think she has been crying for more than 5 minutes as she had to pause big time to breathe and cry.

She was with a staff at the time hubby found her and we think she also traced back her steps to the entrance of the store.

We are so glad that she’s alright and it was a huge lesson to both hubby and I. We now know better to ensure that both of us must be aware of the kids’ surroundings before we go our separate ways. We have only ourselves to be blamed yesterday!

Also, I took the opportunity (when she has calmed down later) that she has to always hold our hands and cannot wander off. We have tried to scare her before which worked but I think this is also a huge lesson for her to listen to us. Hopefully, she will also remember.

Gosh, I’m still shuddering at the thought that we could have lost her big time. Sorry baby for our negligence! I cannot imagine how I can forgive myself if I lost you this way. :(