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by 冰溪
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(1) Hard Headed Boy
Iwas wearing glasses yesterday when I went to pick up the kids fromdaycare. Evan was in an especially good mood, bouncing up and down.
WhileI was bending down in front of his cubby to get his jacket, I noticedthat his pant almost fell off. So I grabbed the back of his pant tryingto pull it up. He thought I was playing with him, so he giggled andtried to pull himself away from me. I held it tight, and then before Icould react, he sprung backward...hard.
Immediately,I felt a sharp pain around my eyes and everything went blurry in frontof my right eye. I took my glasses off, believe or not, that impactfrom the back of his head shattered the right lens of my glasses. Andyou would think he was hurt too, but no, Evan was standing therelaughing.
What can I say, not only he is a hard headed boy; he literally has a hard head.
Bythe way, I was lucky that the shattered glass did not go into my eye(they somehow stayed intact within the frame). So I am fine except forthe sore muscles around my right eye.
(2) Fear after the Event
Asa working mom, I am struggling to be on top of all the deadlines anddue dates associated with both my kids, daycare, Junior Gym and dancingclass tuitions; YMCA swimming class, summer camp and schoolregistrations; parent conference sign up; dance recital costumepayment, field trip permission slip, homework…you name it.
TodayI learned a lesson that if I don’t stay on top of these things, whatcoming after me may not just be the late fees and missingregistrations, it could be a lot worse.
AsI wrote about a month ago, Evan and I no longer have to go inside thedance center to drop Olivia off to her dancing class which makes thedrop off much easier and quicker. So today, after we said good bye andsaw her disappearing inside the double door of the dance center, wejust drove home.
Rightafter I got inside the house, the phone rang. I picked it up and it wasa voice from a male stranger: “Hello, is this Olivia’s mom?” I saidyes.
“I am with Olivia at the dance center. Her class is not open today.”
Iwas really surprised as I had no recollection that the dance centerwould close today especially the parking lot was as crowded as usual. Itold him that I would be right there to pick her up.
Onthe way to the dance center, I started to feel scared. Even though itis very unlikely to happen since he called my house, this person couldhave taken Olivia away if he chose to. She was totally alone andhelpless there. She was with a stranger. She trusts people easily andshe is a kid, she will be in disadvantage in any physical conflict withan adult…
Allsorts of things could happen to her went through my mind, I just wishedthat she would remember what I have told her many times “never get intoa car or go anywhere with a stranger no matter what that person tellsyou”.
Iwas having all these crazy thoughts when I arrived at the dance center.Immediately I saw Olivia and a tall man in his mid-thirties sittingoutside the door reading a book in his hand. So my heart dropped backinto my chest. I went over, they both stood up and Olivia was smiling.
Theman told me that he dropped his daughter off for her dancing class whenhe noticed Olivia was by herself not knowing what to do. For somereason half of the dance center was closed for the spring breakincluding her class. He pointed to a small printed sign on the doorwhich I did not notice at all as I stayed in the car. Then he turned toOlivia and gave her a high five saying: “Olivia is so smart, she toldme her last name and address so I was able to find your home phonenumber and call.”
Wow,good job, Olivia. Mommy is very proud of you. I can not believe allthose time making her practice the address song actually paid off andlucky we listed our phone number.
I thanked the man for contacting me and accompanying Olivia when she was alone. I really appreciated everything he did for us.
Nowlooking back at this whole experience after I got my daughter back safeand sound, I can not help but have this fear after the event thatthings could be worse and we were definitely lucky today.
