Panic and Police Officers

I had 45 minutes before I needed to pick Larger Child up from school.  I decided to push it, and run to the local box store to pick up a few groceries for dinner (I had a craving for bruschetta).  Smaller Child and I found a good parking spot, ran in, and grabbed what we needed (and a few things we didn't... because that's how those places work).  SC had taken a late nap that day, so while we were shopping he was eating a late lunch PBJ.  All in all, we were both thoroughly enjoying our hassle free, albeit a bit rushed, shopping experience.  We went to the check out line, had a very pleasant exchange with the cashier, which is usually the case when shopping with SC... he can be quite the ladies man.  Then with 15 minutes to spare, we headed out to the car.  I loaded up the bags, and took the shopping cart back.  I carried SC to the car, placed him in the car seat, set down my keys and buckled him in.  I gave him the ritual kiss on the forehead, and shut the door.

I realized I did not have my key in my hand, to start the car, and when I went to open SC's door to pick it up, it was locked.

I locked my keys, and my baby, in the car.

(Let me give you a moment to audibly gasp the way I did before the blind panic set in.)


(gasp)



LUCKILY, I still had my purse on my arm, and my phone in my purse.  So, never leaving SC's view, the first thing I did was call Beautiful Bald Husband.  This is my knee jerk reaction anytime there is an emergency.  The very first thing I ever think to do is call him, because over the decade plus we have been together, not ONCE has he EVER not been there in a crisis, or a time that I needed him.  He was at his work, across town. He dropped everything he was doing, and said he was on his way... though I knew it would take a while for him to get there, it was still a relief to know he was on his way.

I took my first breath.

The next call was to my wonderful Mother in Law.  Larger Child was just getting out of school, and someone needed to be there to pick him up.  SHE dropped everything and said she was on her way.

I took another breath.

I pressed my face against the window. SC was sitting in his carseat, key right next to him, smiling, laughing, and making raspberries.  He kept saying "Hiii!" in his southern drawl he picked up from God knows where, and waving his little hand at me.  If only that little hand was a few months older, he could unlock the car for me.  I felt so helpless! I felt so awful! I started to cry.

A woman from across the parking lot came my way and asked me if I needed any help.  I told her I had locked my keys in the car, and my baby was inside.  She ran to the car, looked in and laughed.  "He seems pretty happy, doesn't he! haha!!" I replied, "At least one of us does."  She said that her husband was a police officer.  She called to see if he was anywhere close.  He said he wasn't but he would find someone who was and send them our way.  She got off the phone and said there should be someone there to help shortly.  She then proceeded to wait with me for the next thirty minutes while I waited, fretted, cried, made silly faces through the window, and cried some more.

I didn't catch this woman's name.  But I can tell you, she was an angel.  She told me stories of being in similar situations, even once when she lost her daughter at Disney World.  She said this is just one of those things moms go through.  She kept telling me how happy he looked, and how it was going to be okay, and how this will be a great story to tell him when he gets older. We both remarked on how blessed it was that a cold front had come through the night before, and the car was cool and comfortable. We stood in silence for a long time too, just watching the parking lot and waiting.  I kept telling her that I was okay, and that she didn't need to stay... She would just smile and say, "I'm okay. I'll wait with you."  An angel.

After what seemed like weeks and days and hours, but in reality was only about 20-30 minutes, a local police officer came.  He jumped out of his car, popped his trunk and retrieved a wedge to pry my door apart, and a wire to unlock the door.  After a few attempts, he flung open the driver's side door.  I gasped in TOTAL relief, and charged the door to unlock the back seat.

Tears streaming down my face, I unbuckled SC, pulled him out of the seat, squeezed him tight, and covered him with kisses.  The woman and the police officer, and the couple other bystanders who had collected at the scene all smiled and laughed at SC charms, and remarked on how great it all was.  The officer even said, "well THAT makes it worth it."  I was just trying not to fall apart in front of everyone.  I thanked them both profusely, from the bottom of my heart.  I am not sure if I have ever meant a thank you so much in my life!

I put SC back in the carseat, kept my KEY IN MY HAND, and got in the car.  That's when I broke down.  The fear, helplessness, and desperation slipped away and were replaced with gratitude for the kindness of strangers, the Goodness of God, and the unshakable support of my family.  As I cried, that ugly loud cry of relief, Smaller Child sat in the back seat and giggled at me.