Lost

For the rest of summer, we're clearing Saturdays for time with family and friends.  BB had a birthday party at the museums so we dropped him off and spent time with DD.  It was the first time since he was an infant that it was just the three of us.  There's always lots to see at the Mall but this weekend there was also the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival so we leisurely spent the entire morning romping about.  After lunch we headed back to pick up BB.

And that's when I learned what happened to BB.  He was happy to see us as always.  Then he started telling me a story about how he got lost at the butterfly exhibit.  He turned around and the group was gone.  His friends, the host parents, all had left the museum and headed across the Mall and left BB behind.  Rather than panic, BB found a police officer (uniformed security at the museum) and told him he was lost.  At some point much later, the host parents finally realized that they had lost him and backtracked.  The truth of the matter is that they had know idea where along the way they had lost him.  If you've ever been to DC, the National Mall and the Natural History Museum in the height of tourist season you would know what a miracle it is that BB was found.  I know it is because of BB's instincts to stay put, stay calm and to find a policeman that saved him.  It is also because of the grace of God.

C and I are now dealing with the aftermath of all this.  I am distracted, restless, and yet grateful.  But I am also angry.  And disgusted.  As a parent, this is my worst fear and to have someone that I entrusted put my child in jeopardy in this irresponsible fashion is unforgivable.