busA mom with two kids was traveling on the bus. When she reached her stop, she grabbed her bags and one of the kids and... OOPS! She left her other child, a toddler, alone on the bus. No one noticed until the bus took off. Needless to say, the little guy became "distraught" when he realized he was alone. 

But it all turned out all right! A social worker happened to be on the bus. She took the boy and they got off at the next stop, and walked back to the previous stop. There was his mom, who had realized too late that she'd forgotten something very important on the bus. And I really can't judge her because I can totally see myself doing the same thing.

If you live in a city where you depend a lot on public transportation, this is a parent's worst nightmare. (Or anyway, one of them.) You're never just riding with only your child and nothing else -- you've always got a bunch of shopping bags, school bags, your hand bag, mittens, hats, gloves, you name it. Fortunately, I've only left behind mittens and hats, not my son. But then, I only have one so it's easier for me. I can't imagine juggling all of that with two kids.

Once when some friends of ours were visiting from California we all got on a subway train together. And then, when we reached our stop, we all got off -- except for one of their daughters! We were all reunited eventually, but it was terrifying. Every city kid learns from their parents what to do if they get separated on public transportation. But it's kind of hard to teach your kid what to do when he's only a toddler.

Anyone can make this mistake. English Prime Minister David Cameron left his eight-year-old daughter behind at a pub a few months ago. But thank goodness for other caring adults who step in and help us out when we make mistakes!

Have you ever lost track of your child in a public place?

 

Image via Polo Goomba/Flickr