Terror When Your Child Is missing

November 3, 2012 – Today we had a taste of what a parent feels when they come to the terrifying realization that their child is missing, or worse, abducted.

My family was joined today at the Carl Miller Park in Newnan with a couple of friends and their two kids for a quiet little get together to celebrate Emma’s fourth birthday. We sat, talked and let the kids play at the nearby playground which was maybe 75 feet away in an area clearly visible from where we were sitting. There were other families with their kids playing there also. We could see Emma and her two friends sitting near a wall that surrounds the playground. Lindsay and her two friends were chatting about their recent trip to Seattle while I was attending to Ava. I had just glanced over again to check on Emma. If I couldn’t see her I’d stand up to make sure she and her friends were visible at all times.

Then, just an instant later came the sound of a child yell out “Mommy!” It sounded like Emma, though her friend has a very similar voice. That is when the three of us stood up, looked toward the playground, and our three kids were gone.

Lindsay took off with her friends toward the playground yelling out their names. No answer. The kids had vanished just that fast. We spread out in the area, me staying on higher ground with Ava looking over the park and also watching for any vehicles leaving the area. All across the park you could hear the sounds of three mothers screaming out their child’s names in absolute panic. Our kids were no where to be seen. In a few seconds I would be dialing 911 to report a child abduction.

One lady who was holding her child’s hand began walking and searching. On one side of the park were a large group of folks having a cook out under a pavilion. They turned down their music and began looking around within their area for our two little blonde girls and little dark haired boy. On the other side were maybe four families sitting in the playground where our kids had just vanished, but they all sat there as if nothing was going on. They did not give a damn that someone elses child was missing. Clearly, there were three mothers in a total panic, screaming out names and descriptions, yelling for everyone to help search. They just sat there. It was a imperative that we find those kids immediately before they could be taken from the area.

I walked back down to where I last saw the kids, then returned back up the small hill to take another scan of the area. About the same time I slid my hand into my pocket for my cell phone, I saw Lindsay, looking toward the playground with a look on her face I hope I never see again. She had spotted Emma hiding under a bench area which was closed on two sides adjacent to a sliding board. She ran over to find all three kids hiding there. Our kids were safe.

Yes our kids were scolded for not responding to our cries and yes they were hugged and kissed in relief.

This entire experience of shear panic and terror lasted no more than five minutes, but we all learned something about society. I immediately came to the realization of how it is so easy for children to be abducted or even wander off, even though they are within feet of us. Some people just don’t give a damn about anyone else. Even if it means a child’s life is at risk.

There sat a group of parents who, without any doubt knew that someones child was missing, and never for one second got off their asses to look or even offer to tell someone that “Hey, are these your kids under this bench?” From our view they could not be seen. From the people sitting against the inner wall of the playground the kids were clearly visible yet sat there silent.

As a parent, or even as a fellow human being how can you not be concerned when you see a mother screaming and begging for people to look around for their missing 4 year old? How do you not care? How does one group of people stop what they are doing and help, and another just not show any concern at all?

This is going to sound very insensitive, but I hope that each of those other parents who sat there so unconcerned, experience, just once, the same panic and terror that we experienced today at Carl Miller Park in Newnan, Georgia. I don’t wish any harm, I just want them to feel the same five minutes that I felt today.

I never want to see that look on my wife’s face again. -JRoycroft