Uh-oh! I lost my kid at the supermarket!

Previously, each time I heard an announcement about a missing child in a supermarket, I used to wonder how on Earth parents could be so negligent.

Being so judgmental and arrogant, I thought such a thing would never happen to me. I would guard my children like a hawk!

Well. I had to eat humble pie one day ….

My three boys and hubby were shopping at the Sunshine Square in Penang. After browsing, we found ourselves on the fourth floor where lo and behold, we were at the toys section. The children were excited and we went on an animated tour of a few interesting items. Then, my husband spied a dinosaur model set and it captured their imagination. We crowded around the box while hubby rattled off some facts about the Tyrannosaurus rex and pointed out the pictures on the large box.

After a few minutes, I looked up and discovered my youngest boy, Andrew, was missing! In the blink of an eye, he was gone. He had wandered off by himself, and he was only three years old!

Our hearts skipped a beat and we started to panic. We fanned out in all directions to look for him. It was made all the more difficult by the huge crowd. Visions of him being kidnapped filled my tortured mind. I was consumed by guilt and anguish. Why didn't I hold his hand tightly? Regret and fear overwhelmed me and my heart was in my mouth

Suddenly, there was an announcement - “We have found a Chinese boy, around three years old. Will the parents come to the ground floor to claim him?”

I sprinted all the way down and dashed towards the information counter. From afar, I could see Andrew seated beside him, with a salesgirl comforting him with a packet of snack food. I called out, “Andrew!” and he rushed towards me crying loudly. I lifted him and hugged him real hard.

Relief washed over us like a tidal wave! Thank God he was safe!

By this time, the entire brood had arrived. His brothers were thrilled to see him again.

The staff explained that a salesgirl had found him wandering around, looking for his mum. So, she had kindly brought him to the information counter. We thanked them profusely.

Of course, the onlookers had a whale of a time judging me. “Tsk … tsk … tsk … so careless ....”

Lam Bee Wan