AKA, Why I Was Crying at the Library.
The first time Apple ran away at the library today, I didn’t even realize he’d left the children’s room until he came back with a fistful of CDs from the rack outside. He was very proud.
The second time, Raisin was helping me check out our books when Apple wandered off. I didn’t feel safe asking the girls to stay put, so by the time we gave chase, he was hiding in the stacks somewhere. He found us after maybe 30 seconds, but my eyes filled with tears anyway. It felt like hours, and I had no idea which way he might’ve gone.
The third time (I KNOW), I was trying to hold onto him, since he’d established himself as a flight risk. But Raisin was running ahead, and Orange refused to leave, so I let go of Apple’s hand to grab Orange. He dashed out the outer door, which Raisin had already opened. (Curse you, Minnesota, and your stupid inclement weather and your double-doored building designs.) Thank God another mom (sans kids, but she told me she has 4) was nearby, and she grabbed him. I lost it when I caught up to her and thanked her.* She took one look at my face and escorted us to our car.
I didn’t get her name, but she may have saved my life today.
*Am crying again now. Damn.
Fruit Salad 
Poor Julie. I have a runner, too, and it makes for some hard times. I invested in a baby leash (don’t hate!) and have cut our “running out into oncoming traffic” incidents down to almost zero. 🙂 It looks like a monkey backpack, but the monkey’s tail really long and you just hold onto it!
Oh dear. I remember losing kids in the library stacks before. I think my heart still hasn’t recovered.
I hope you have a peaceful night and feel better in the morning.
Oh, sweetie. I have so been there. And even if it’s just 30 seconds, your mind can go to very bad places in those seconds that seem like hours. I used to look down my very long nose at people who put leashes on their kids. Then I had a kid, and, oh, how the mighty have fallen.