04-06-2010, 08:16 AM | #1 |
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I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
I came home early from college yesterday evening (nearly 6pm) and found my wife cleaning dishes and my oldest daughter doing homework. I saw the backdoor open and asked if my youngest (6yrs) was outside playing to which I received the response that yes, she's out there with the cat. I looked in the yard and saw the cat, but no 6 yr old. I walked outside and looked around and saw nothing but an open gate leading to the front. I walked around the house and did not find her, so I walked back inside and told my wife that she must be in the house. After not finding her initially, I let my wife know that I was beginning to worry that I was not finding her, and we walked around again, calling out to her. I ran across the street to see if she was at my father-in-law's house playing on the swing in his backyard. He had not been home all day and Caroline was not there either. I walked back to my house where I found my wife going to the neighbor's house because they have a cat over there and once they invited her over to pet it. Nobody was home over there except the lady who cannot leave her home for medical reasons. I saw my "bad" neighbors outside enjoying themselves and asked them if any of them had seen her, and two answered no, that they'd just come out, but one of them said he'd seen a girl walking up the road and pointed in that direction. I turned to look in that direction, feeling two things at once...fear that my life was about to change forever, that I could not imagine what things would be like without her...and anger beginning to boil that my wife had not monitored her better. I turn around just before running up the road to go looking for her, I thought in vain, and I see her turning the corner at the next block down and heading back home. I ran down to meet her with two more things going through my head...how lucky I was that I have her back...and how hard I was going to beat her in front of the world in the street. However, upon approaching her I merely asked..."what are you doing down here" to which she replied, "I wanted to walk around the block". This routine of walking around the block is done irregularly with my wife and two daughters, usually when my daughter wants to ride her bike and my 6 year old comes along and the three of them complete a nearly one-mile circle.
Don't miss my point on this...this neighborhood is not fit for a child to be alone. There are many bad people around here, and there are dogs I frequently see loose as well. It is nothing short of a miracle that she managed to go around for a mile with no adult in sight and make it home okay. Yes, she's grounded for the rest of the time we're in this house from being outside without somebody else with her. That's the only punishment I can think of that suits the situation.
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Last edited by Larry_OHF; 04-06-2010 at 08:19 AM. |
04-06-2010, 10:36 AM | #2 |
Ninja Storm Shadow
Join Date: March 27, 2001
Location: Northport,Alabama, USA
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
Thank God you found her, as a daddy myself been there done that. I understand the feelings of fear, anger, fear, joy at finding you child, fear of what could have happened. Being a daddy ain't for the fant of heart that's a fact.
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04-06-2010, 12:11 PM | #3 |
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Iron Throne Cult
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
I'm so glad your daughter was alright, Larry. As JDH says, I understand completely the fear, anger, fear, joy you must have experienced.
I still vividly remember when my oldest son was only 2.5 years old. I had taken him and his younger brother (1 yr old) out for a walk. Realizing I had to stay closer to his brother, my oldest began walking farther away from me and finally walked out and [b]stood in the middle of the road![b] (literally). Cars came by our house averaging 45-50mph. It is only by the Grace of God nobody came by while he was in the road. And I DID beat his butt (in addition to grounding him) after I got him out of the road.
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04-06-2010, 12:16 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: March 31, 2010
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
Its things like this I'm not looking forward to when my little boy starts wandering around! I can imagine how you would be freaking out.
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04-06-2010, 01:08 PM | #5 |
40th Level Warrior
Join Date: July 11, 2002
Location: Chicago, IL
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
Two Arab mothers are watching their children play while discussing their older children. One says wistfully, "They blow up so fast."
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04-06-2010, 02:58 PM | #6 |
Zartan
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
***GROAN*** So bad T.L. I still laughed :O
I wandered like crazy as a kid, so I expect to suffer some cognitative dissonance in a few years.
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04-06-2010, 04:02 PM | #7 |
Jack Burton
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Ireland
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
Me too, I roamed everywhere. I remember pretending to be at a friends house when, in fact, I had taken the bus into the city.
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04-06-2010, 10:10 PM | #8 |
The Dreadnoks
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
Glad to hear the sit-rep has a positive ending. Be weary of merry-go-rounds in the mall during Christmas time.
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04-09-2010, 04:30 PM | #9 |
Dracolisk
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
And they wonder why you turn grey or bald .....
I'm a parent too, I have felt your pain
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04-11-2010, 11:13 PM | #10 |
Ironworks Moderator
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Re: I Was Close to Suffering The Worst Tragedy of any Parent Yesterday
Reminds me of when I was three years old and decided to take what amounted to an unsanctioned two-mile walk around the neighborhood. (Dang I wish I could STILL walk two miles without getting winded!) I've never been beaten like that before or since. Well, *I* knew I was safe, but my parents were frantic. Didn't ever happen again!
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