It has been awhile since I wrote about our experiences....almost a year! And there is so much to tell! Today, though, I came to the computer to decompress and talk about an adventure that we had today.  

I'm always extremely excited to take family friends out on a trail new to them.  We went to the Shubie Park single track that is one of our nearby favorites.  It's not an official trail but we call it Peter's way or Vivian's Way extension, or simply the far end of Shubie trail.  Our destination for the day were a few docks that are tied up in a cove - I assume people bring them  across the lake to be sheltered for the winter.  It is not a super long hike but single track, with lots of variety and a  few wet spots.  Today, there were 6 of us in total - two mommas, and 4 boys.  The boys all explored under the highway overpass first...such a big temptation! Then we headed down the main trail before heading off to the left on the single track.  I know my boys are comfortable and knowledgeable on this trail - we have been here many times in different seasons.  It is in a city park.  The trail is located between a lake and the main trail through the park, and the highway just beyond that.  It is lovely woods for in the city but certainly not backcountry.   We did not see any other hikers on it today and I have rarely met others on it. 
Today, there was a bit of drama to begin with as one of the boys didn't want to wear his jacket. When that was all sorted, a few of the boys ran ahead a bit, stopped and then ran ahead a bit again.  They were loving the trail. There was a little turn where they waited a bit of sight, but I knew they were fine.  The other mom reminded them of making sure to wait at intersections, and to stay in sight.  Then just a few minutes later, I spotted one of the boys wandering off the trail.  I shouted out to him that it was important here to stay on the trail.  He was bummed as he wanted to hide and scare us.  The boys did continue to run off ahead of us.  I couldn't see all of them most of the time but I was none too concerned as the boys know to wait after a few minutes.  It is a pretty clear trail to follow.  There is a handmade bridge across a little waterway that attracted the boys.  They wanted to jump on it to make the water splash.  A bit tricky as the board is not super strong across that long of section, but the boys need to experiment a bit.  I was just thankful that they didn't get wet or fall in, and that was what I was focused on.  We started to move on, and that's when we noticed that Zachary was missing.  I thought maybe he was just ahead hiding just off the trail and he would scare us soon.  He gets up to some serious silly antics sometimes.  I wasn't concerned.  But he didn't jump out.  We went on, and I convinced myself that he had just taken this opportunity to get ahead of the gang (he often ends up at the back of the pack somehow).  But he knows not to go too far ahead.  I'm sure he would stop at several natural stopping spots where we had stopped before.  But he wasn't there.  The two older boys ran ahead to look for him.  Then I decided to run ahead too to see where they were and if they had found Zachary.  When we reached the edge of the lake, I became concerned.  The older boys had waited there. No Zachary.  We yelled.  I wasn't sure whether to go ahead some more, as I was pretty sure that he would wait/stop once reaching the lake, even though the trail does continue and he knows the route well.  I just could not believe he wasn't there.  This was an absolute stopping spot, and it had to have been 5-10 minutes since we last saw him. Maybe he had gone on to the docks, but that just didn't seem plausible.  That's when I started picturing him behind us, scared.  Maybe he did decide to hide on us but didn't jump out on time.  Maybe he fell near the water and we didn't hear him.  I gave the backpack with the snacks to the other Momma and ran back to see.  Yelling and huffing and puffing and yelling his name.  I got back to the little bridge- our last sighting.  I yelled, and yelled his name.  I couldn't tell if I could hear a response.  I could hear highway noise and the water rushing by.  I checked a spot that we had previous bushwhacked through.  Maybe he got left behind and decided to head for the main trail.  I considered that I was unsure when I should call for help (at what point, when a child is missing do you call 911?).  That's when I decided to text my husband.  He didn't respond.  I called him, and stayed composed!  It was difficult.  I reminded myself that losing it wouldn't help, and that I had to return to the kids and the other Momma under control.  My husband said he would drive to the trailhead and head in the trail behind us, and I let him know we would continue down the trail to the far end.  I wondered if Zachary was left behind us, would he return back the way we came and head for the vehicle.  I decided to head back to the group.  One of the boys mentioned that Zachary said he was going to hide.  This made me doubt whether to go on, but we had to.  We hurried further on the trail.  I ran ahead.  Within a couple of minutes, I found Zachary relaxing on a rock at the spot where I had intended to go to - the docks destination.  (He told me later that he didn't know this was our destination for the day.  He just got tired and decided to rest).  He wasn't scared (In some ways, I desperately wanted him to be so that I could feel he had learned a lesson, but I was also pleased that he wasn't fearful of the tranquil place he rested, too).  He knew he wasn't lost.   He wondered what took us so long to get there!  

We had some fun getting on one of the docks.  Liam decided to make any extra long jump off of it, and got one whole leg wet.  He took off up the trail in frustration, but stopped and took off his wet shoe, then refused to go any further with his sneaker on.  I told him he could walk barefoot if he wanted.  He did for at least half the way back....one sneaker on, one sneaker off....but at least he was walking.  When he complained his foot was cold, I helped him clean his foot and gave him a wool sock to put on, and put his wet sneaker back on.  Not a big deal!

Breathe. Breathe.  I can handle this!

So what did I learn?  

It is really important to go over the rules with the kids before leaving.  The dynamics can be so different depending on the day/ who else is with you.  I am so comfortable with my own children's knowledge that I don't always pay attention to them, and tend to focus on the other people with us (worth noting and changing!). 

I still won't be fearful to head out in the woods with the kids, but I will let this experience be a lesson.  It wasn't very cold today, and he was in a relatively small search area if it ever came to that....but there will certainly be days that will not be the case.  Do not be scared but also, don't get too comfortable - they are still kids!

I want to have more whistles for the kids/friends and review their use with them. 

It is always best to stay calm.