Missing keys, purses, wallets and remotes are daily occurances at my house. One would think we would get a system to alleviate this problem, but that would really be to simple for a family that seems to thrive on chaos. So, rather than put thoughts into a solution, we continue each day with feelings of annoyance, aggravation, and panic.

First, we are annoyed that someone would pick up the remote in the last 24 hours since we had it last, which soons follows by extreme aggravation for them misplacing it. Of couse, I never lose anything. It is always someone else. The aggravation soon turns to panic when object such as keys or wallets have not been located within a few minutes, even sometimes prompted meltdowns.

Meltdowns are seldom; however do occur. For instance when Kadi was Missing last school year. The feelings of annoyance and aggravation lasted all of 2 seconds while the panic came on strong and prompted the meltdown AFTER we found her. Or when my keys were lost in Grapevine and all of Nikki's things were locked in my car. It is safe to say that I freak out, while Brian calms me down and quickly looks for a solution. In fact I rarely see him in a panic. The first day of school this year was a rare day.

Once again we had a child missing for over an hour. At first, however, I didn't realize he was missing, so I quickly went through the annoyance stage in 2 seconds and lingered in the aggravation stage for an hour or longer. It was when I saw Brian in panic mode that I flipped. The 15 minutes before we found him seemed like an eternity.

It was a day of firsts. First day of school. First day of middle school for Cole. First day to take his cell phone to school. First day of football.



We had a plan. I always take and pick-up my children on the first day of school. This day was a first, and they each knew the drill. I didn't want him taking his cell phone to school, but he begged. His reasoning? If I need to call you or find you after school. Okay. But during school it must be on silent in your locker. Yes ma'am.

Fast forward to 3pm. I pick up my girls.

3:10 Sonic

3:20 - Middle School waiting on Cole

3:40 - Kids begin to come out side. Do not see Cole. Get voicemail when I call his phone.

3:45 - I get out of car to look for Cole. Still voicemail.

3:55 - Visiting with parents and Cole's friends about there day. Still waiting on Cole and still getting voicemail.

4:00 Ask everyone, Have you seen Cole? NOPE

4:03 - Finally find someone who saw Cole. Kid tells me Cole went on Bus. Voicemail.

4:05- I'm Aggrevated. Stuck in traffic without Cole. Cole's milkshake is melting.

4:10 - Brian calls. Hurry up and get home with Cole. We have to go to football early.

At this point, I am aggravated, but Brian is pissed because Cole didn't follow directions. Again, it is the first day of school Calm down Brian. I don't want to start our year off mad at him. It is okay. Now realize, I didn't have ANY sleep the night before, and just woke up from a nap. I am on auto-pilot.

4:20 - Brian calls. Cole is not at home. Once again, Calm down Brian. It is the first day, the buses are probably running a little late.

4:30 - I arrive home. Voicemail.

4:35 - I know Brian is mad. I tell him to go to football and I will bring Cole when he gets home. He screams at me, "my son is missing. I can't just go to football. What kind of dad do you think I am,"

Missing? He isn't missing. Wires got crossed and ...... you think he is missing? Brian calm down!

4:40 - Schools been out an hour. Bus drops kids off down the street and leaves neighborhood. Lots of kids. No Cole. Voicemail. Missing?

When we called the school, they said he wasn't in the office, but they would page him. After about 5-7 minutes, they alerted me that he didn't answer his page, so he wasn't at school. Good luck finding him.

What? That is all you have to say?

4:35 -4:45 - Bus barn number busy. Voicemail.

4:45 - Got reemed out by Brian because I didn't verify Cole was on the bus while at the school. I calmly ask, do we need to call the police? Let's comb the school first.

4:45 - Brian goes to school while I go to Bus Barn. Kerri is manning phones at home with strict orders to call me as soon as she hears from him.

4:55 - Brian found Cole.

He was at the school waiting on the bus with the principal. The bus was actually missing. His bus was over an hour late picking up kids at the school to take them home.

5:00 - I want answers.

Why was the bus an hour late? - They will take my number and call me back. They don't know.

Why did a bus drop kids off while some kids were left at school? That was the bus from the highschool, not middle school that I saw.

Why did the ladies in the office not know this to relay to parents? There were no other calls. The principal couldn't leave the kids to alert them.

Why was I the only parent calling? Everyone else had the fore thought to call their parents. Some parents work and they would be home alone until 5:30 or 6 anyway.

After tears, hugs, and kisses, we have a new understanding. Cole will be calling home from now on. Oh, and by the way, he said he asked if he could ride the bus and I said ok, sure. I think I am going crazy! :)