Two year old missing - Stockwell FOUND SAFE
- Thread starter ricbake
- Start date
I was in Spain with a friend and her 4 year old son. The friend had gone to her office for about an hour and I was entertaining the kid. He was running on the kind of boardwalk and one minute he was there and one minute he wasn't. I felt sick and panicked. He had run into a shop and resurfaced about a minute later but the whole time I felt awful. I refused to watch him again on the beach as the fright of what can happen crippled me.
trashpony
Hag
Depends what kind of child you have. At the risk of being sexist, most 2 year old girls I know tend to hang around their parents. My son on the other hand will shoot off within seconds. I have often lost sight of him, never for very long but enough to scare the shit out of me. And he's been nearly out of the door of restaurants before I've got up from the table.
So I would never dream of judging any other parent who accidentally loses a toddler.
So I would never dream of judging any other parent who accidentally loses a toddler.
Agent Sparrow
AGENT TRAITOR; fools 8 year olds
I didn't, my mum had to watch me like a hawk.
(((my poor mum)))
Agree with everyone who is saying that with some toddlers, taking your eyes off them for a split second is enough for them to leg it. Very glad the little girl has been found - I bet the parents are so relieved; despite my jesting pride at being a handful, it must be a horrible situation for a parent to be in.
Agent Sparrow
AGENT TRAITOR; fools 8 year olds
Yes, but if a loving, careful parent just once has their attention diverted for a split second and they run, it doesn't necessarily make them a bad parent. It makes them an unlucky human who on one occasion had their attention drawn away for a second. I'm sure many parents without children who run have done the same.
This is obviously why child reigns are so useful.
Thora
Differently Ethical
I don't think it's really a gender thing, but does totally depend on the child. I looked after a 2 year old who would whine if I didn't hold his hand, and I could 100% guarantee just wouldn't wander off. A friend of mine looks after two year old twin boys and they are both bolters - never mind not holding hands, they'll both wriggle out of reins or pushchairs and be off in opposite directions.
Corax
Luke 5:16
Fair enough. I'm often amazed at the number of parents strolling along the pavement with their kids trialling behind them though. There's one round here who lets her 2ish yr old daughter totter along a few metres behind her, unsteady on her feet as she is, right next to a busy road with fast moving traffic.
Some parents are fucking idiots.
Nanker Phelge
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
Kids run off and it's daft to suggest parents can stay forever tuned to the every possible move a child's gonna make.
I'm surprised at the judgemental tone of some of the posts here - especially from parents.
...actually, on second thoughts, no I'm not, it's just yer average urban upstart response to a real life human event.
I'm surprised at the judgemental tone of some of the posts here - especially from parents.
...actually, on second thoughts, no I'm not, it's just yer average urban upstart response to a real life human event.
Corax
Luke 5:16
Fuck's sake, if you can't keep a handle on their behaviour at that age, what chance is there when they're 14?
Small children are remarkably simple. Action, reaction. Cause, effect. Like dogs.
*prepares to get slaughtered by the urban parental masses*
Nanker Phelge
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
If you're keeping that much of a handle on them at that age, what chance do they have at freedom when they're teenagers and really wanna get away from you.
Thora
Differently Ethical
Yes, two year olds with a tendency to run off will probably be stabbing people by the time they're 14
It's not hard.
Corax
Luke 5:16
There's no breaking of spirit going on.
Cars are dangerous, and squash people. I'm here to keep you safe. If you run off, I will not be able to keep you safe, and you may come to harm. Do not run off.
Kids respond very well to simple logic when people bother to explain shit to them instead of just 'telling' them.
Thora
Differently Ethical
Not all children respond well to simple logic, especially not at 2 - not very good impulse control.
Corax
Luke 5:16
Every kid I've come across has. Mine, my nieces and nephews, my friends' kids. Maybe I've been lucky, or maybe I just strike terror into the hearts of children. I dunno.
AnnO'Neemus
Is so vanilla
I recall when my daughter was two, if I blinked in a clothes store, or turned my attention to untangling some hangers to try something on, she'd have hidden among a rail of trousers or something, wouldn't be visible, thinking it was hide and seek or something.I have a two year old daughter and I 100% would not take my eyes/hands off her in a crowded public placde
I wouldn't condemn someone. And they're tiny, so in a crowded place, they might be there, they might be very close, and they might feel secure because they know where you are but you can't see them - hence shouting loudly, "Okay, I'm leaving now, bye" often brings them out of the woodwork!
No! No! Wait for me! Mummyyyyyyyy! 
London_Calling
Pleasant and unpatronising
Phew!
I also guess one person's running off is another person's exploring.
I also guess one person's running off is another person's exploring.
trashpony
Hag
My son understands slightly more now he's nearly 2 and a half. But six months ago? No chance.
I have a friend whose house backs onto a massive communal garden. Whenever she has parties with all her friends and their kids around, my son is the only one of all the 2-3-4 year old who will not only quite happily go out of my sight but he will open other people's gates and walk straight into their houses. He's not naughty, he's curious. I had one friend tell me that toddlers will never stray out of sight of their mothers. Err no, yours may not but mine will.
They don't make all children the same and it's asinine to assume that just because you would have to be ignoring your children for quite some time before you'd lose sight of them, it's the same for all of them
Thora
Differently Ethical
Maybe you know some very compliant toddlers. A lot of it is personality too - as I said the 2 year old I looked after most recently just wouldn't have left my side. But a lot of two year olds, even if they know what they should do, even if they understand why they should do it and can remember what the consequences will be - their ball rolls into the road or they see a cute cat over there that they want to stroke and they forget what they should be doing.
I wouldn't condemn someone. And they're tiny, so in a crowded place, they might be there, they might be very close, and they might feel secure because they know where you are but you can't see them - hence shouting loudly, "Okay, I'm leaving now, bye" often brings them out of the woodwork!
That's the reason i'd be extra vigalent in a crowded place though, it's so easy for her to just do a bunk.
trashpony
Hag
hence shouting loudly, "Okay, I'm leaving now, bye" often brings them out of the woodwork!
Mine says "Okay mummy, bye."
quimcunx
imprimeo, lamino, distribuo
I wonder how many of the people on this thread who are scandalised that someone might lose sight of their toddler for a second or not have a grip on them for every second of the day (and their other children too if they have them), are the primary carers for the children.
Care to explain where you're coming from with that comment?
