One my last plane ride I left my sunglasses behind. I lose them frequently so this was not surprising. It is also why I buy inexpensive sunglasses. I had a pair of expensive sunglasses once. Once being the key word there.
I read that laptops are one of the frequently left behind items at the airport. I thought, ‘How in the world do you forget your laptop?’
But then I read this news article last week, and thought, ‘How in the world do you forget your child?’
I try not to be judgemental of other parents, because heaven knows that there have been times I have felt the judgement of other parents who don’t really have a clue of what is going on. But come on! How can you get all the way on the plane, settle into your seats, take off, and STILL not notice that one your little children is missing? And have to have the pilot inform you over the loud speaker that someone has found your child wandering around the airport? Wouldn’t the empty seat clue you in that someone was missing?
I have made it a habit to count my children over and over again in public situations. It is like a neurosis now. Not sure what I will do when my children are all grown. Maybe have panic attacks in public for no reason?
Sure, I have had kids wander off over the years. When my oldest son was about three, he liked to run away from me and he got lost in Walmart one day and they had to do a Code Adam, which just about killed me. But I didn’t leave the store and get all the way home without noticing he wasn’t with me.
When we are in the airport or walking through anywhere that is crowded, one of us will be in the lead holding the hand or hands of younger children, and one of us will be in the rear, holding a hand. The parent in the front is responsible for blazing the trail the parent in the back is in charge of making sure that no one wanders off.
Can you imagine forgetting your child like this?
Regis & Kelly spoke about the left behind child last week. Kelly (has 3) said that now she doesn’t feel so bad about once leaving Joaquin in the car when they returned home from a week-end away. She and her husband each thought the other had the sleeping 3 yr old.
If the child did not have his/her own ticket and was expected to travel on a parents’ lap, there would not have been an empty seat.
Chris says: The child was 4 years old. Lap babies have to be under 1.
Comment by Kathy from NJ — August 10, 2008 @ 9:50 am
I have never had a large family, so I guess it can happen. However, I would think that they would have noticed long before the pilot told them.
Comment by SoMo — August 10, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
I saw that too, and thought: Well, MAYBE I’d get all the way to my seat, stow my luggage and sit – I don’t know, since I only have to keep track of one. But like you said, to have to be informed over the loudspeaker!? And wasn’t it like 45 minutes into the flight? There’s something seriously wrong there.
Comment by Brigitte — August 11, 2008 @ 6:56 am
BUT…if there were 2 parents and each thought the OTHER parent had the child, not so hard to imagine. I’ve got a crew that would NOT fit into one row. Hard to do a head count if they were seated away from you.
Of course, there are precautions that you can take to avoid “losing” your kids, and we should all be diligent, but a little forgiveness is in order. We’ve all made some DUMB moves with our kids(that hopefully didn’t end too badly), right?
Comment by Alecia — August 15, 2008 @ 2:11 am