Scared Out of Our Wits

We had the biggest scare of our lives last night. We had just reached our home from dinner with the in-laws. Andrea had taken Jayden out of the car seat, and he started walking along the parking lot lines, as usual. I got out of the car with Hannah in my arms, and Andrea was grabbing the bags from the back seat.

We heard the sound of cars turning into the parking lot, and simultaneously we looked up and called out to Jayden, warning him to stop walking and be aware of moving cars.

But he was nowhere in sight.

The panic that gripped my racing heart was reflected on Andrea's face - blood drained from his face. Where was Jayden? There were so many cars parked inside, and he was too small to find.

I ran, baby in tow. Towards where I assumed he would be, headed to the elevator. Which was right where the cars would pass by. A million thoughts flashed through my mind; none of them helped put me at ease.

Andrea started yelling Jayden's name louder. It is so scary to know your child could be in danger and yet you don't know how to prevent it.

Suddenly a tiny figure ran out from the narrow gap between the two cars parked next to ours, his face pale with unknown terror, sobbing uncontrollably. Jayden.

I ran and knelt down next to him, shushing him gently as I stroked his head. He must have been terrified by the way we yelled out his name - he's sensitive like that. With Hannah still lying comfortably in my arms, oblivious to everything, I hugged her brother tightly. I had never been happier to see his crying face.

Andrea regained his composure, and went to strict parent mode. Using this as a learning experience, he talked about being careful of moving vehicles, staying close to the parents, etc.

I should have kept my eye on him no matter what. He has a tendency to walk out on his own the moment he leaves the car seat, and I should have known better. Even though it was night time, and our condominium parking lot gets very little traffic, I should have been more alert.

After that, we joked about how Jayden looked so bewildered and started crying probably because he could sense the fear in our voices, which rattled him even more even though he did not know what was going on. Oh Jayden. My first chubbz.

Thank God for His protection. Another reminder that our children are blessings from God, and we need to cherish them and grow them up in partnership with Our Heavenly Father.

Thinking about it still sends chills up my spine.