It’s every parent’s nightmare: you’re in a busy store, you take your eyes off your child for just a moment, and suddenly, they’re nowhere to be seen.
The panic that ensues is unimaginable for those who haven’t experienced it, but it’s all too familiar for those who have.
However, a mother’s quick thinking during such a distressing moment at Kmart has reunited her with her child and earned her widespread admiration for her clever approach.
Veronica Voulgaris, a lawyer and mother of two, faced this harrowing situation when her three-year-old daughter vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.
Many parents can relate to the fear that gripped her, but Voulgaris remembered a life-saving tip she’d picked up from a video she’d watched weeks before.
Instead of calling out her daughter’s name, she described what her little girl was wearing: ‘Little girl in a pink dress!’
This simple yet effective tactic turned other shoppers into impromptu detectives. They switched into what Voulgaris described as ‘ninja mode’ and scanned the store for the child.
The strategy paid off quickly, with her daughter being found safe and sound, happily playing with stickers.
‘I think it’s more effective than simply calling your child’s name because by calling out what they’re wearing, people consciously and even subconsciously keep a look out for a child in that particular clothing,’ she said.
She explained: ‘From a safety perspective, if you have a parent calling out, for example, “girl in a pink dress” and you see a little girl in a pink dress (god forbid) being escorted by someone else, then you’re more likely to question if that child is really theirs.’
The response from other parents has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have expressed gratitude for the hack and vowed to use it if they ever find themselves in a similar predicament.
‘A lot of people have said that they hadn’t thought to use this trick and that they would use it from now on because it’s brilliant,’ she said.
Some parents have even adopted their own versions of the trick, teaching their children to play ‘Marco Polo’ as a fun way to locate each other if separated.
‘Whilst I don’t wish my child to go missing anywhere, at least if she wanders off, I have a mechanism for finding her,’ a commenter wrote.
‘Knowing you can rely on the community while shopping is so refreshing. I was blown away by how many people stepped in to help that day,’ Voulgaris said.
Have you ever experienced a similar scare while out shopping with your children? Do you have other tips for quickly locating a lost child in a public place? Share your stories and advice in the comments below—your insight could be invaluable to another parent in need.
Also read: Kmart charms shoppers with a $25 item that rivals a $170 designer piece
