Cop Car Revisited

Kelly wanted some more details of my first ride in a cop car, so I will try to remember anything that might be worthwhile.  1. I walked over to the police woman sitting in her car feeling so guilty.  I remember thinking, should I apologize for not knowing where my child is first or just ask for help?  BTW, the officer was so helpful and not at all critical.  2. She told me to get in the front seat while we drove around the park; I had walked over to ask her to seal the perimeter - I seriously thought that.  I wanted to tell her what to do, but she took control of the situation immediately and I followed her around like a little child.  3. I sat in the front seat of the patrol car while she drove through the park, and I mean through the park; over the baseball diamond, around the play structure.  4. This part was difficult, because I knew Kate wasn't there - but I don't think I was making much sense at this point, I wasn't being very clear that I was worried she had gone onto the street sidewalks.  5.  This particular park has a winding sidewalk that circles back on itself and is about a mile long.  Turns out the kids had taken the path around approximately 3/4 a mile and that is why I couldn't see them.  6. My friend's husband had started running the track to find his children and Kate and he got to the kids first.  The kids didn't seem to be too frazzled when he found them, even the sight of me rolling up in a police car didn't elicit the guilty look I was hoping for on Kate's face.  We did drive past that same park today and Kate pointed out the window and said, that's the park where I learned I have to stay where I can see you Mom - so there is hope for the future.  I of course want to keep better tabs on my children in the future, but I am comforted to know that Kate knew to stay on the path and that she didn't wander out of the park - I guess five is bigger than I thought in some ways.  I kind of wonder if I didn't over react, but I will give myself credit for doing my best in a difficult moment.