Yowsa -- I will try not to let a full month go by before I post again. Some blogger I'm turning out to be. My excuse -- been a bit crazy on the work and home front, but hopefully this will get more in control now. I've taken a gazillion career interest surveys and writing comes up as the top again and again, so perhaps I should take the hint and get my rear in gear.

I was just recently on vacation with my family and we visited the Phoenix Zoo as our last top in AZ. An experience we had there made be wonder a bit about some of parents out there. We had just visited the a crazy little monkey exhibit when a small child went scurrying by half saying/half crying for his Mom. He was a bit of a sight, a little worse for the wear with scrapes all over his forehead and dirt smudged about from the zoo excursion. My husband and I immediately were concerned that he was lost, as you might expect. I watched him for a moment, shuffling my own kids over to the husband so I could take action. Despite the fact that he seemed to be searching with a purpose, it was clear he didn't know where he was going and just wanted to keep moving in the hopes of bringing mom closer. Mind you, the path we were on encircled a very large pond in the zoo. I took off after him with my son, which turned out to be a good move as I think he helped the boy feel comfortable with me approaching him. He was clipping along quickly so we had to jog to catch up with him and touch his shoulder to catch his attention. I asked if he was lost, and after that first look of fear, he nodded his head. I offered my hand and said that we'd help him find his mother. So off we went in search of zoo personnel at the monkey exhibit. While she radioed for help, looking a bit lost for what else to do with the boy, I held his hand while other parents began to speak.

Several noted that they had seen him but after other similar scenarios during the day, assumed his parents were near. I could tell a few felt bad for their inaction -- it was not as if they hadn't noticed him. Another volunteered that he had come from around a corner in entirely another direction. Still while we waited for the zoo's park ranger, watching for a mom or dad to come nearby with a frantic look of searching. None came, but then another woman walked by noting that he'd been lost for some time, but they had lost track of him in another area of the zoo. Again -- all these folks watching, none acting. I don't say this because we did anything special, but out of astonishment that so many would just let this boy keep wandering in the crowd. While we waited, I was able to determine that the little guy who held tightly to my hand while we reassured him was just 3 -- and I'd guess a young three based on his communication skills. At last, the park ranger arrived, also looking a bit fumbly vs confident at how to communicate with the boy. I handed him over with reassurances, but must admit I felt a bit like I was abandoning him since I didn't see him through to his mother.

I rejoined my family where my little gal had become a bit jealous of my attentions to another child. A short bit later, we say the little boy, whose name I never quite caught, back with his family. The mother was smacking the dad with her handbag, playfully annoyed with what must have been a situation created by his inattention. He just had a shameful grin on his face. I was so glad to see them all back together, but I must admit I was surprised that they didn't seem more upset. I can't even begin to imagine how frantic I'd be if my small child had wandered away near a pond in a huge crowd of people. They couldn't have been united more than a couple minutes, and yet they were already laughing it off. Perhaps it's the only way to cope with such a frightening experience, or maybe it never crossed their mind that he wouldn't be back in their care shortly. Whatever the reason, the experience provided a great learning opportunity to share with my own children about what they should do if they're lost. And here's hoping that next time to parents who watched but did not help will be moved to action the next time they see a child in need.