Now you see them...

Kids can get themselves lost in a matter of seconds so it pays to make a note of what they're wearing. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday and Cornwall Park was packed with people. We were there for one of Mia's little friends' second birthday.

The kids were tucking into sausage rolls, cup cakes, and fairy bread - while the grown ups were having a few lunchtime beers with yummy salads, sausages, and breads.

Then, all of sudden, this idyllic day took a terrifying turn for the worst. One of the mums realised her three-year-old daughter had disappeared.

She hunted around frantically for a minute or so. It took all of us a while to click that something was wrong. You know, as if it was just a false alarm.

But when mum still couldn't see her, panic took hold.

Her breathless, blood-curdling shrieks swept out across the park, as she shouted out for her daughter.

Through her distress, mum managed to tell us her little one was wearing camouflage pants. That was the only clue we needed.

We all charged off in various directions - like Willie Apiata and his SAS mates - scanning the immediate area, picking our way through the picnicking families, on the hunt.

I spotted her, a tiny wee blond dot wandering around by herself about 80 metres or so away, not flustered at all, just a little disorientated.

In the end, it was only a matter of three or four minutes before we found her, but it was bloody awful.

Her mum said later that she probably overreacted. Not likely. When it comes to losing a kid, I say panic and scream all you like until you find them.

I had a similar, albeit far less serious, moment with Mia at Farmers in the mall late last year.

She thought it was a hoot to run off down the aisles, pulling at the clothes, and generally wreaking havoc. Then I lost track of her, and it was only for a matter of 15 or 20 seconds, but my heart started pounding, I felt a slight breathlessness, and desperation. I'll say it again: bloody awful.

One thing I learned at Cornwall Park - and call me paranoid, I don't care - is to take note of what your kid is wearing.

I'm not saying dress them in fluoro orange and green, but making a mental note of what clothes they've got on isn't that hard... and never underestimate how quickly they can move.