Nearly a Parent's Worst Nightmare.

The cliched statement It only takes one moment for something bad to happen rang true to us yesterday as we escaped nearly from a parent's worst nightmare.

Since the weather was beautiful yesterday, we decided to take advantage of the free event of the Wisconsin Badger's Spring Football game. We trooped everyone to Madison, parked and walked to the game. In the first quarter, everyone was excited: Bucky Badger was walking around, the football players were playing, and we even got to see Trevon Hughes-- the Badger's starting point guard.


Yet, as the first half passed, the kids attention waned after the snacks vanished. So, at halftime, I innocently looked at everyone and said, "Let's go." I began to get up and no one moved, so I sat back down for a few minutes and watched a halftime game spectators were playing. When that finished, we stood up to leave and I looked around and realized that Evan wasn't there. We looked up the stairs-- no Evan. Down the stairs -- no Evan. Both sides of the row-- No Evan.

Then, we started to panic. I sent Chris up the stairs to see if he had walked up them, while I stayed by our seats in case he was meandering nearby. Brendan started hysterically crying, "I don't want to lose Evan. I love Evan." However, his tears forced me into a calm and in control place. I decided to go to the field edge and ask a security guard to help. She asked me for a description, and I even laughed to reply that he was brown haired and had a Badger shirt on just like every other four year old in the stadium. However, she gave his description and name on the walkie talkie, and we waited.

Only a few minutes later, she looks at me and said, " We think we found him." I calmed down a little, but I was truly worrying that maybe they were wrong. Chris was still looking around the stadium, trying to get a glimpse of him. However, about five minutes after she let us know he was found, Evan was brought across the edge of the field to where I was standing. I thanked everyone and just hugged him. He held on tightly as we climbed the stairs to go out.

At the top of the stairs, we had to wait for Chris as he was still searching. I was trying to inquire to Evan about what happened, asking the scary questions of "Did someone ask you to go with them?" "Did you just go by yourself" etc. Finally, he said, "Mom, you said it was time to go. . . " My heart broke. The little guy was just listening to me and didn't wait for the rest of us to leave.

This nice old man from the concession stand came over at that time to say he was glad Evan found us. He had spotted Evan in front of the concession stand, looking scared so he escorted Evan to the security guard who brought him to us. As I thanked the man, for the first time, I felt my emotions threatening to overtake me. This stranger had helped to keep my little boy safe. I was so grateful.

We left the stadium a few minutes later when Chris came back and saw that we were all doing fine. That was one day we will never forget. For now, we are just so happy that Evan is with us and safe.