Yesterday I was very lucky! No I didn't win the lottery, bunco, or even hit all the red lights on Center Street. I was lucky, mostly VERY blessed because I got to say goodnight to my little Jo Thursday evening.
You see we had quite a scare Thursday afternoon. I took her to preschool, running a little late due to the snow, and told her to run into class because she was going to miss the visit to Santas village. Well she ran up, stopping to wave several times, went into the door area, there is a wall blocking my view completely, came back out, and waved again and I said "go go." (She does this all the time walk.. stop.. wave.. walk..._)
So she was at school and Ryker and I went on to do our normal stuff, we thought. We went to the bank, came home shoveled snow, and went to get my hair trimmed. While getting my hair styled, I had a phone call on my cell. I didn't recognize the number so I sent it to voicemail. After getting into my car I sat to listen to the message and it goes something like this.
"This is the principal from Orem Elementary and we have something to tell you. Today when you dropped Jo off at preschool, the doors were locked, we don't know why but they were. So after trying the doors, Jo started walking home. A family found her at 400 S and Main and took her in called the cops and she is now back at school!" (Okay at this point I am bawling hysterically in my car.) I listen to the rest of the message about how Jo just thought school was closed, I drove off and she just thought to walk home. Now we live about 11 blocks east and 4 blocks west of her school and on the other side of State Street. I know she would have never made it home, although she was headed in the right direction. Then the tears really came.
The great principal went on to say that he took her in his office and they had a chat about this and he walked her around the school and showed her all the doors to try and how to never walk home and how she was soo lucky that good people found her. WHAT a scary moment!
So I drove home, called the principal and we talked. He said she was fine, and I called into class to check on her. She was fine, but boy was I not. I was feeling so guilty that she had come running after me and I just drove off. I was thinking about all the bad case scenarios and what ifs? I called my mom -who happened to answer her cellphone- and just cried and she helped me calm down. I tried to get ahold of Jim for 2 hours, but he was working away from his phone and desk. It was a BAD DAY!!!
I am soo grateful that this story ended good. I love my JO and I wouldn't know what to do without her. She is my mini me, my copy cat, my only girl...right now and I love her. I finally got ahold of Jim, and bawled hysterically to him. Thirty minutes later, since he was more calm, he picked her up from school.
When she arrived home I was waiting. I ran to her, hugged her, didn't let go and talked to her. I asked her why she didnt' come running after me, she said she did so then I started to cry again. But remembering I had stopped to scrap my windows and was there awhile I asked again about her running after me she said she didn't and she didn't say anything either. So it appears that... last time she came back out from the doors and she was waving and I said "jo go"; that was her plea for help. It was not for me to go but to stop. We have had a long talk about how that was not a panic call and how she needed to run and scream MOOOOOOMMM!!! It was a very long talk.
WE talked about stranger danger. We talked about how she was soo lucky that someone nice found her, as she was trying to walk home. WE talked about how she was brave but how it wasn't a smart choice to try to walk home. We showed her how far in the car today and showed her STATE STREET and how scary it is to cross. What an emotional time it was for both of us. She cried I cried, we talked cried some more and so forth.
I asked about her story, She said after trying the doors, she didn't think to go in the blue ones, the main, she just knew she had to get home. She told me she was cold and and scared but she watched for cars and walked about 6-8 blocks on the sidewalk. She talked about how her shoes and socks were wet and she put her hands in and out of her pockets. NOW here I am picturing this and tears just come to my eyes. AGAIN and then to hers.
She went on to say then a nice dad was outside shoveling snow and she was walking in her PJS and coat, if that doesn't make it worse (it was PJ day at school) and crying. He asked her if she was lost, she said yes. He invited her in and let her talk to his wife and watch TV while they called the cops and then they, not the cops, took her back to school with the cop following.
I am so grateful that they were good honest people, who didn't take or hurt my JO. I am so grateful that they could understand her as she has a speech delay. I am so blessed that she was able to tell them where she came from and what had happened and they were able to contact the right school. I am so glad that last night as I was driving to Lehi in the snowstorm that I wasn't out searching for JO. I am so grateful that the Lord is looking out for me and that his hand is in my life.
I can't drive down that street without crying yet. I can't sleep because I have bad dreams of her running after me and me not stopping, her getting hit by a car worse things. It's awful, really. Now I know this happens to alot of people and almost every parent loses their kid or something but I still just get so shook up about this. I seriously might need therapy.
I woke up this morning, went to her bed, she wasn't there and the fear came again. She was downstairs playing with the nativity scene quiet as a mouse. I again ran up to her hugged her and said " JO I couldn't find you, you scared me!"She said, "mom I am not gone I am right here." AND I am sooo glad.
She didn't want to go to school today b/c she was worried that they would lock her out and that I would leave her. She gets choked up at this part of her story every time. I assured her that the teachers have promised to check the doors everyday and that it won't happen again. (and I gues the teachers witnessed the janitor who was suppose to unlock the door, get an Earful today:( ) JO added about the doors, and if they are locked I won't walk home I will go in the blue doors.
I am so happy she has learned her lesson and we did make it to school today. Thank goodness it was a Christmas party that I was in charge of so I was going with her. She was ok about that. WE had a great time in her class decorating cookies, making crafts, playing games and all sorts Now we are on Christmas break so we have 2.5 weeks to heal from the trauma. I am sure Jo is way more over it that I will ever be and that is good as one of us has to have it together it's Christmas for heck sake!
Now on with the FUN!!
