I Blame the Faux Finish

Because of my so-fun painting project, I had to make an unscheduled trip to Lowe's today. While looking at paint chips, Micah decided to run up and down the aisles, round some corners and generally do everything in his boy powers to not stay at my side. I rounded him up, herded him back, and scolded and admonished him until I thought my head would explode. When I walked around the paint counter to see the other paint displays, he chose to lag behind, dawdle and piddle. I figured he needed a lesson in Instant Willing Obedience so I simply walked away from him when he refused to come. I kept the eyes in the back of my head on high alert for him, and watched as he walked around the counter, didn't see us, and silently wet his diaper in fear.

He lost his mom.

Being the stellar mom that I am, I chose to let him stand there freaking for a few seconds before I quietly called his name and made him realize that I was right in front of him. He was visibly relieved. Lesson learned, harmlessly.

I had taken Luke along with me, and he had spotted the Kid Workshop poster at the front of the store. He was very excited about the possibility of making a pirate ship and a pirate treasure box. Can you even imagine? How fun would that be?! Can I go? Huh? Huh? When is it? Who's bringing me? Where do they do it in the store? Will I get to keep the things that I make? And while I was answering the thousand and six questions on the Kid Workshops, Micah rounded a corner. I saw him walk away and realized that his lesson had not been learned. By the time I walked to the end of the aisle (which was all of about four steps) Micah was nowhere in sight. He couldn't have gone far in that small space of time, so Luke and I walked up and down the center aisle, looking down side aisles. Nada. Luke thought he saw Micah's crocs walking toward the restrooms so we headed there. Zip. Seeing as how the restrooms are right at the front of the store (where the paint section is) I sent Luke out into the parking lot to check. Zilch. We walked up and down the main aisle once more before I realized that by this time Micah could be anywhere in the store.

I lost my son.

I informed the closest employee and a Code Adam was called. For my son. Because I let him walk off. They asked what he was wearing and I told them. They asked how old he was, and in an effort to be as helpful as possible so that he could be found quickly, I said "six, but he looks more like four. He can't talk."

It was only a minute before he was found. We were both very much relieved, my lost son and I.

And after it was all over, the thought that lingered in my mind was that, while giving his description, I failed to mention that he has Down syndrome. Funny how we just don't define him by that.