Easter Experience!

Easter Sunday. Kids swam in the kiddie pool with their friends, morning till early afternoon. Service in the afternoon. Pizza, Xbox after. Dinner out to remember my dad’s passing 5 years ago. Last minute dress shopping at a store near the restaurant.

All was well until I went back to get my newly steamed dress. The girls, including my goddaughter, came with me. The saleslady, however, folded the dress into a bag, which obviously made the steaming useless. I insisted that the dress needed to be hung because I was going to use it the next morning. The saleslady made some phone calls, got permission to give me the hanger for free (haha thanks, that should be part of your steaming service), but could not find a plastic cover to protect the dress. The lady steamed the dress again and apologized. It was fine since I could bring the dress straight to the car, which was parked right out front.

I sent the two older girls, Danae & Raerae back to the restaurant. It was a few meters away, so I was confident that they’d be okay. I waited till I saw them go inside before Noelle and I walked to the car. That was a quick 5 minutes, but walking back to the restaurant, King met us at the mall entrance with a “WHERE ARE THE KIDS?”

He and my mom apparently left the restaurant, WITHOUT TELLING ME! He tried calling me, but my phone was charging at home. I ran back to the restaurant, hoping to see the girls there — they weren’t. Panic started setting in. Pictures of them screaming, being taken against their will by big, awful men kept flashing in my brain. And the other one’s not even my kid! How on earth was I gonna explain this to her mom?!! I ran around, searching, mad at King for not telling me that he was even planning to leave the restaurant. In situations like this, I normally don’t cry, I get mad (hahaha). Noelle was with my mom at this point. When I saw a guard walking, I decided to ask him and praise God, he knew who I was talking about! He said something about the security office being in the 2nd floor. As I was marathon walking going there, two people asked me if I was looking for two girls. I guess they saw my face, frantic with worry. They pointed me to another guard whom they saw with the girls. That guard told me that he did find the two “english-speaking” girls (his words haha) and told me that my companion (King) was on his way there, but directed me to the security office anyway.

I ran as fast as I could to get to them. Danae cried as soon as she saw me, saying she was “so worried.” I was huffing and puffing, and sweating like a pig (is that even a real expression? how much do pigs sweat?), but I was so relieved to know that they were safe and sound. I was pretty impressed with SM South Mall’s security. They were on top of it, thank God!

We apologized to the girls for OUR mistake. I should have just let them come with me. OR King should never have left the restaurant (hehehe). I also called my friend Bev, who entrusted her daughter to me for the night. Raerae got worried and said, “Oh no, she’ll get mad at me.” I said “Of course not. She won’t be mad at you.” Then Danae said “She’s gonna get mad at you, mom.” Hahaha thank God she didn’t freak out! Anyway, LESSON LEARNED. NEVER TAKE CHANCES WITH OUR KIDS. Thank God for His protection over them, despite our mistakes. It was the first time something like that happened to us, and I don’t want to ever experience it again. EVER.