Last Sunday we had an experience where “all’s well that ends well” but it was scary for a few moments. After a wonderful day playing in the water at Sandcastle (a local water amusement park), we lost Sarah. One minute Carl and I were standing and talking while Sarah was in our view… we had our attention elsewhere for a minute, and then we didn’t see Sarah anywhere. She is not someone we normally need to watch vigilantly at all times, but she is someone who sometimes decides to leave when she is ready to leave and doesn’t always wait for us to be equally ready. We considered that she had gone into the bathroom so I went to check, but she wasn’t there. We assumed she had exited without us seeing, so after searching a bit more, I headed to the car with Amy and her friend. Carl spoke with Security. Sarah was not at the car. I started freaking out a bit that someone had taken her. I regretted not attaching at AirTag to her swimsuit. I couldn’t believe this was us with a missing child. We started looking again near where we had been. And then… there she was, sitting quietly and calmly on a chair very close to where we had last seen her. She had gone into the bathroom, but into the family bathroom instead of the women’s room. We hadn’t thought to check the family bathroom! We had been looking for her in her swimsuit, but she changed into shorts and t-shirt. We were immensely relieved and so impressed that Sarah knew to stay in one place and didn’t seem worried about where we were. We reminded her to tell us if she is going to go change or leave. I also ordered bracelet bands so she can wear her Apple AirTag easily for future Sandcastle trips or any trip anywhere!
Later in the week I took the girls back to Sandcastle (with AirTags). It is a perfect place for both kids to be able to have fun. Amy can do water slides that are fast and possibly scary while Sarah can hang out in the wave pool or the Tad Pool.
Tuesday afternoon we all piled into the car and drove to Cleveland to see the Bandits on the Run. They are one of our favorite bands and their concerts are always the best ever. Sarah was singing along with everything from the first moment.
My guess is that seeing Adrian from the Bandits on the Run reminded Sarah of her days in the Sarah-Rise room, and by extension playing Candyland. Wednesday she found it in the basement and asked Amy to play as soon as we got back from getting new Velcro straps on Amy’s scoliosis brace. Amy was delighted to be able to take a deep breath without her straps popping open, and Sarah was delighted to play Candyland. She especially loves getting sent back or losing a turn!
Sarah’s bus driver sent us video footage of him driving through the Squirrel Hill tunnel. Sarah loves it and responds as if he can hear her. What I didn’t predict is how helpful that video has been for diffusing moments when Sarah is about to start screaming. She suddenly shifts to happiness. So far it has worked twice to save the day.
May you find anything or anyone you have lost and want to find. If that someone is yourself, maybe follow Sarah’s lead and just sit quietly in one place until you are found.
No comments:
Post a Comment