A Mum's (or Dad's) Worse Nightmare!?

Question

Last night I was bathing my youngest daughter (3yrs) and washing her hair etc, when we were finished I came out and asked where my 5yr old daughter was as I couldn't find her. Well didn't things excalcate from there, NO-ONE could find her, (myself - hubby - and 2 older step daughters) we searched every room in the house, under every bed every possible space she could hide etc, backyard, front yard everywhere. and no sign of her, I couldn't believe it talk about FREAK OUT, I was a mess to say the least, all the horrors you hear on the news started running through my head, neighbours heard my cries for daughter and came over and they were out walking the street (it was dark) searching for her. I'm still freaking out and hyperventilating bigtime as well as crying and hubby went to call his workmates to start patrols around here (Security Guard) as I went to grab my phone to call the police.

Answer 1

I'm not a mother, but I did have quite a large scare with my younger sister.

You see, we used to live right on a highway, where massive trucks would drive by and all these cars. Also this house was plonked right onto a run down farm, so rusty tractors scattered the area, also a large,large,large old shed, full of dangerous equipment and such was located right behind our house.

Anywho, my little sister was nowhere to be found one afternoon, and my mother was in hysterics, so was I as it was my birthday and that was the last thing I wanted.

We all thought the worst, that she'd walked along the highway and gotten run over, or someone kidnapped her, or she'd been crushed by something in the shed. etc.etc.

This farm, was also shared with our cousins and there house was 50 metre's from ours, turns out my little sis [four at the time] went over to there house to play with the dog.

BIGGEST.SCARE.OF.MY.LIFE.

Answer 2

Oh yeahhh... I have a VERY independent 4 year old who occasionally vanishes.  The worst was at the Tamworth Country Music festival - you can imagine a large town with 10s of thousands of people roaming the streets going from venue to venue.  Luckily an older couple spotted her and stopped her until we found her... turned out as we were waiting to cross the road she'd decided she'd go back to a shop she'd seen to get a drink she wanted..  AAAAAARRRRGHHHH!!!!!  I can definitely feel your panic!!

Answer 3

The worst nightmare is losing a child. Unfortunatley I know how it feels.

Answer 4

Yes, I 100% understand what you went through - its horrible and an absolute scarring experience.  I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

I have three kids - about 4 years ago, when they were 3, 17 months and 5 months old (2 boys and a girl) - I had put my daughter down for a nap and took the boys outside in my backyard to play (I had a monitor so I could hear her).   I was right on top of them, watching them both carefully.  While they were playing, my 3 year old son fell down, and for literally about 3 seconds I turned my back to pick him up.  When I turned back around, my 17 month old son was GONE.   I called for him, ran around frantically dragging my 3 year old with me - I was hysterical.  I had fortuneately brought my phone out with me and just immediately called the police.  I was convinced he had been kidnapped or something.... I couldn't see how he could get so far out of sight so fast.

It felt like eons, but within 5 minutes several police cruisers showed up.  They immediately started scouring the area looking for him.  It took 10 minutes or so (the LONGEST minutes of my life), but thank god they found him, unharmed.

He had somehow found a little "hole" in the thick bushes across my backyard - went through it, crossed the street behind me, and was heading up a hill into some woods.

To this day (4 years later) - I just shudder to think of all the horrible things that could have happened.  Never mind the kidnapping, he could have been hit by a car crossing the street, gotten lost in the woods, etc.  I blamed myself for a loooooong time.  I still to this day have panic attacks if I lose sight of my kids for even a millisecond.

We also moved out of that house and neighborhood.  The house was too small and we were thinking of moving anyways, but do you know my neighbors all saw me, crying and screaming hysterically for my son, and NOT ONE OF THEM came out to help.  NOT ONE.

I'm just so glad to hear your story had a happy ending, and I'm so sorry you had to go through that!

Answer 5

Oh you poor thing!  It's such a horrible feeling :(

I was at the shop with my daughter and had my hands full with bags (groceries).  I turned around to ask her something and she was gone.  My first thought was "oh no, a paedophile has grabbed her" and I started freaking!  My heart was racing, my stomach was burning, my head was throbbing and then I saw her standing in front of the sweets aisle staring at all the chocolate and lollies.   I was so relieved I burst into tears! hehehe

She was about 4, and since that day if my hands aren't free to hold her hand, I make her grab my jacket or skirt so I can feel that she's still next to me.  She's 9 now! hehehehe....

Answer 6

The same thing happened with my little sister about 12 years ago, at the time she was about 4 and had been hiding in the closet, she was hidden under clothes too and everyone was freaking out. She thought it was pretty funny but i swear i have never felt so scared in my life, i was only 9

Answer 7

i no how that fells my son went missing. he was over the road playing with the dog. i was preparing dinner 4 all of us n called out to him. he didnt answer so i started freaking out call my cousin him n his wife came over. asked the uni students, but they didnt no where he was so they started calling 4 him. n yea they found him under the house next door playing with the dog.

Answer 8

omg how frightening that must have been for all of you thats never happened to me but i just wanted to say thank goodness she is alright x x x

Answer 9

Oh Honey, I know how hard that is. Just about a week ago, my 6 year old, Peyton was sent to the garage to get a small box of baby food, out of our food storage. She found the baby food, and put it near the door from the garage to the house. (Oh, and there is a door connecting the garage and backyard to let you know) So, Peyton went through the backdoor, and into the backyard. She had had her bathsuit on from earlier when she went for a swim. We have an in-ground pool, and a smaller above ground, that was further away from the house. Took off her clothes, and hid them in a bush. She got a snorkel, and got in the pool. After a while, i was like "where is my baby food?" So, tried to find Peyton around the house. And couldn't. So, I had the kids try to help search for me. Closets, under beds, bath tubs. I looked in the garage, and nothing there. I looked in the backyard, and found Peyton's clothes. And this really got me freaking out. I mean, I was like "did someone kidnap her?" So, in a panic I called my husband who was at work, and he rushed home. My hubby searched the house, and the backyard and garage. We drove over to our neightbors house to ask if they had seen her. So, still with no luck, we called the police. They asked me kinda what she did that day, what I found in the backyard, and in the house. I then remembered that she had gone swimming and still had her suit on, and so at least where ever she was she had he suit on. And the officer said "did you search the pools?" And i said no. The Officer went into the backyard, and pullled her right out of the pool. She was hiding near the ladder, and it was dark, so I didn't notice anything when I glanced over toward the pool. I gave her a huge hug, and got all wet. =P One of the scariest days of my life.

~Kate =)