I mentioned in my previous post that I would share a story to make plain the fact that I'm not always the best ______. Feel free to insert wife, mom, house manager, photographer, friend, daughter, sister, etc, etc, etc, etc. I typed this story out the day it happened and ended up deleting it for fear of my defects being public and for fear that people would not appreciate me making light of my mistakes. And although, I do think the situation I'm about to share could have turned into something horrible, it didn't. And, in hindsight, it's kind of funny (in a scary, self deprecating kind of way). So here goes.
My sister-in-law and I took our babies one morning to the central library downtown. We had a nice time. We made our way to leave around noon. There is a lady who sits at a desk by the elevator who noticed our little ones and said hello. We took the elevator one floor down to the parking garage. I was letting Maggie walk on her own. She's a confident walker. We all walk out of the elevator (I'm confident she was right beside me) and immediately start messing with paying our parking tickets at the machine in the "elevator lobby". At some point, Emily asks "Where's Maggie?" The elevator lobby was enclosed and we were alone so I was sure she was just at our feet. I look down, turn around, but I don't see her. I ran out the lobby doors into the parking garage and call her name. I didn't see her and plus she can't open doors by herself. Then I'm realizing the only place she could be was on the elevator. I push the button. The door opens and a man with a stroller is standing in the elevator. I ask him if he has seen a little girl. He says, "Yes, she's upstairs with the lady at the desk." He jumps out. I jump in. The elevator goes down. UUUgggghhhh! A couple gets in. We go back up. The couple gets out. Emily asks if I found her yet. "No." I go up. The door opens. There is the desk lady and a smiling Maggie Lu. She seems pleased to have taken her first solo elevator ride. I kind of explain what happened. One of the ladies at the desk gives me a "that happens sometimes" look and the other lady gives me a "I was about to call CPS" look. One look was deserved the other was appreciated.
I'm not always the best mom.
My sister-in-law and I took our babies one morning to the central library downtown. We had a nice time. We made our way to leave around noon. There is a lady who sits at a desk by the elevator who noticed our little ones and said hello. We took the elevator one floor down to the parking garage. I was letting Maggie walk on her own. She's a confident walker. We all walk out of the elevator (I'm confident she was right beside me) and immediately start messing with paying our parking tickets at the machine in the "elevator lobby". At some point, Emily asks "Where's Maggie?" The elevator lobby was enclosed and we were alone so I was sure she was just at our feet. I look down, turn around, but I don't see her. I ran out the lobby doors into the parking garage and call her name. I didn't see her and plus she can't open doors by herself. Then I'm realizing the only place she could be was on the elevator. I push the button. The door opens and a man with a stroller is standing in the elevator. I ask him if he has seen a little girl. He says, "Yes, she's upstairs with the lady at the desk." He jumps out. I jump in. The elevator goes down. UUUgggghhhh! A couple gets in. We go back up. The couple gets out. Emily asks if I found her yet. "No." I go up. The door opens. There is the desk lady and a smiling Maggie Lu. She seems pleased to have taken her first solo elevator ride. I kind of explain what happened. One of the ladies at the desk gives me a "that happens sometimes" look and the other lady gives me a "I was about to call CPS" look. One look was deserved the other was appreciated.
I'm not always the best mom.
aw Melissa! I love you so much. My mom has like three stories where she left one of us kids behind. Ha ha! She found us again and we turned out just fine. I think the Lord has a lot of special grace for mothers. I happen to think you are an amazing mother--don't beat yourself up.
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