My little run away!

I've now lost count of the amount of times Tayler has done a runner on me, and today he decided to add again to the stress and worry I have when he's off! This morning I lost him whilst we were in the school playground once again. It didn't help that he was wearing his school uniform ready for this afternoon, so everywhere was a sea of white and blue, sometimes I could spot him in his jeans, but not today. He has no fear and a mind of his own. In some ways I don't want to squash his confidence with 'stranger danger' worries, but I just can't take the stress anymore when I loose him! My stay safe rules are - 1) stay where you can see mummy (then I can hopefully see him too, it's not fool proof I know, but if he can't grasp that, he's never going to get stay where I can see you!) 2) Ask before you go anywhere (nope this one doesn't seem to be working either, my boys haven't learnt the concept of asking, it's demand and whine!) I usually enlist as many mother's as possible to man every exit and search for him. I'm well experienced at organising a search party now ranging from beaches, parks and supermarkets to leisure centres, school playgrounds and garden centres. You name it, I've probably lost Tayler there.

So today when I found him sitting on the assault course at the furthest end of the playground to where I was standing I really let rip. Probably not a great idea as our head master was showing around new pupils and parents at the same time, within hearing range, but I was so worried and felt I needed to try and hit it home to my son that he's done this one time to many times and I am mad! Well my "I'm really, really, really cross with you! This is very, very, very naughty" had the desired effect and his little face started to pout and then the crying starts. Good I'm thinking, maybe he's got the message. But no, instead of - "I'm so sorry mummy, I'll never do it again" I get - "I'm so sad, when you get cross at me, you're so naughty. My Jesus is not happy with you!" What is a mother to do! I'm in support of leashes for children and Global Positioning Systems anything that helps me keep track of my son. I'll never know how I managed more than my two boys, it's a miracle I never lost any of them. In my defense I'd say I was quite a vigilant mother, well you'd be if you'd lost Tayler as many times as I have, but what do you do with a little Houdini?