But isn't it automatic instinct to get the younger child standing right next to you whilst you do that?
I'm far from a perfect parent, if anything I'm overprotective, but if I ever had to give my full attention to one of my children, I made sure the others were right next to me whilst I did it. I can't imagine not doing that in the middle of a forest with a 2 year old. Surely you'd sit them down right next to you whilst you did what needed to be done?
I'd say for any decent mom/grandma it's gut instinct to feel protective yes. I'd also say it's not at all unrealistic to assume that SHE assumed Noah was still right there the whole time she was distracted with his sister because she never heard any kind of crunching of leaves or anything as he walked/ran off. For parents that have never had a small child literally go *poof* and disappear, it's hard to wrap your head around just how FAST those little legs can move. Especially when you KNOW they were right there - a moment ago because you were watching them.
My now 33 yr old did it once when she was 2 when I was in the bathroom. I'd just checked on her, went to the bathroom, came out and she was gone. Out the front door she went and I found her walking down the sidewalk holding the hand of an old lady. (I immediately installed child safety locks on the front door, after I was done having a heart attack).
My now 29 yr old did it at the mall when she was about 2, TWICE in the same day. The first time I was holding her hand and she let go and hid behind a pillar. The second time hubby was holding her hand she let go and crawled under one of those benches they have in malls. We went home immediately and to this day, I hate malls.
My now 18 yr old did it when she was just under 2, when we were unpacking at a winter cottage for the weekend. All the kids were playing in the living room, we were unpacking and putting groceries in the cupboards and I looked out the kitchen window and there she was, standing in 2 feet of snow, in nothing but her diaper and t-shirt, crying. NO ONE even saw her walk out the door.
I think most parents have stories like this. It's just impossible to watch kids every minute of every day, and when they do slip away they're darn fast. For those that never had a sneak-away kid, be thankful you've never experienced that horrifying feeling where you genuinely have NO IDEA where your baby is. It's paralyzing and your mind (and heart rate) races like mad. This is what the family of Noah is going through right now, for the last 6 days. Even 5 minutes of it feels like a lifetime so I cannot imagine how they're suffering.
moo.
Without food, water or proper winter clothing. Hope the searchers will find him alive is pretty much gone, at this point and I really hated typing that. I just hope they DO find him and can give this poor family (and the awesome extended family/community) some closure.
