It Only Takes an Instant…
(Take a look at this cool blog, with info and pics of malls around America…this is the Sunvalley Mall, in Concord, where we were today.)
Along the same theme as the near-drowning of a child in a friend’s pool last weekend, Maya and I were at the mall today, and we were near the top of a very tall escalator/stairs combo. We were getting ready to ride the escalator down, and waited for a crowd of people to pass by us. I noticed a toddler slightly behind them, who didn’t fit into the crowd (she was blond, they, all dark haired). This wouldn’t have raised any red flags for me, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to her, which any good parent near an escalator or staircase would certainly be, so I stopped her, prepared to have an angry parent turn on me for touching their child. Nope. I asked her where her mommy was, but she couldn’t yet talk, so maybe I imagined it when she said, “No mommy”, or maybe she meant to say that. Who knows. As I crouched by her, I kept talking to her, and waiting for her parent(s) to show up, worried, wondering where their little girl might be. Nothing. Finally, another woman noticed that I was asking the little girl where her mommy was, and she went to get someone to announce something on the loudspeaker about a little lost girl. Too young to give us her name. Finally, after at least 5 minutes, a harried looking woman came running, and thanked me for stopping her granddaughter from falling down the stairs. She said she and the grandfather had been shopping, the granddaughter strapped into her stroller, and she had apparently learned how to unbuckle herself, and run off, while they were looking at shirts or something. She left with the grandchild, and I suddenly felt somewhat sick…thinking of what could have happened, how the little girl might have died from her fall, would certainly have been very hurt. I was kinda glad that it was hot out today, leading me to the indoor mall rather than the outdoor one that is an equal distance from my home in the opposite direction. Maybe someone else would have stopped her before her fall…or halfway down…and maybe not.
Back a few weeks ago, I posted about my surprise at how many kids these days are afraid and aware of the dangers of child abduction, and not at all afraid or aware of the dangers involved in everyday life. Dangers like drowning in a friend’s pool, or falling down an escalator or a tall flight of stairs.
8 Comments
Cherry
We were there today too!!! Wow… that photo brings back memories! It’s so different now.
My brother actually got pretty hurt at Sun Valley Mall when he was little (pre-me). Not wandering toddler kind of hurt, but flip flop not paying attention at the bottom, ow ow pain someone stop the escalator so his toes are saved, sort of hurt.
What a blessing that you were there, and had the sense about you to stop her. Can you even imagine just how much time went by and you processed that she didn’t seem to belong to the group, that no one seemed to be paying attention to her, and that you were willing to take the risk of someone being upset that you’ve touched their child, and yet you still come to the conclusion that it was worth stopping her. WOW.
Py Korry
Ack! When you were telling me this story yesterday, I kept thinking how this could have ended so horribly if you weren’t there.
kookiejar
I’m glad you were there. Anymore people are so afraid that they’ll be mistaken for a kidnapper or a pervert that they don’t watch out for small children.
I always told my boys (when they were small) that if they ever got separated from me in a mall that they should go up to a woman with children for help. Find a mom. Thank goodness they never had to use that advice.
J
Good advice, kookiejar! The other woman who helped me? Also a mom. Not to be sexist, I would also say find a dad, but even in this day and age, it’s still easier to find a woman out with her kids in the middle of the day than a man. And single folks without kids are often not in tune with little kids, so not as good to try to stop and ask for help.
Autumn's Mom
You were meant to be there yesterday. That’s what I think. You are the hero J 🙂
ally bean
Yeah to you and for the little girl. Kids can be too clever for their own good. The what could of happened scenarios on this are just awful. Glad that you went to the mall.
Gina
Very glad you were there. So many people would have just walked on by.
wanderlust scarlett
Ok.. one, I grew up in Benicia, so I have been to Sun Valley mall about a million times… WEIRD to see it staring back at me from your blog.
Weird.
Now, most importantly, I have awarded you the Rockin Girl Blogger award, when you get a minute, drop by my page and pick it up, it is well deserved.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore (the lion)