Why I might be a little crazy...

On a beautiful day, you must take advantage of the park.

Swings, slides, sand, and sun make for happiness.

Until, someone goes missing.

I prefer not to say I lost Beaux. I'd rather say she was misplaced for a moment or escaped my eagle eye for an instant. But call it what you will, I could not find her. I looked up to the spot I had seen her playing only moments before, and she wasn't there. No worries yet. Just a few minutes prior, I told her we were done in the sandbox so my intuition told me to check the sandbox. As I came closer I realized she had not disobeyed me and was still no where to be found. I did another quick sweep of the playground and still didn't see her.

That is when it begins. That is when fear causes you to loose touch with reality. That is when you become totally unaware of the people around you. That is when you throw away any idea of social norms. That is when you become the,"Manic Mom." Any mother who has ventured out to a playground, crowded mall, or packed zoo has probably been the, "Manic Mom." You are a frantic, hysterically, lunatic all in the name of looking for you child. After my final scan of the playground was unsuccessful, I immediately begin screaming. "Beaux, Beaux, where are you." I am deliriously running around the park hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Other mothers, who have complete empathy for me because they have likely been a, "Manic Mom," themselves, have jumped off the parks benches to help me look. I'm starting to let my mind wander to dark places and just about to fall apart when I spot, two blond pigtails bouncing up and down. I run over to find her in a huge hole dug out by some very ambitious children. She was trying to continue their work, and couldn't be seen while in the depths of the project. I ran to her, hugged her, and even cried a little, all while Beaux stared at me like I truly was insane. The entire hunt couldn't of lasted more than 90 seconds, but it felt like a lifetime. I thanked the women who helped me look, all while forcing myself to breathe. This little adventure left me totally exhausted and it was time to go home.

Plus, I needed the peace of mind that came in strapping all three

children into car seats and buckles.

I knew I couldn't loose anyone, at least for a few minutes.