As a mom of five, it’s routine to go anywhere in public – “What if you get lost?” I yelled into the chaos in front of Fan’s mom. “Find a worker!” one of my children shouted back. “Get a policeman!” said another. But in a viral TikTok posted by Kari Rogerson, her husband instructs their three children to “find a mom with a crossbody bag… who knows everything.”
And, truth be told, his advice was spot on. Some reports indicate that “crossbody bag moms” are organized, no-nonsense, ready for anything, and focus on bags that are practical but not necessarily stylish. certainly That’s who you want in an emergency, right?
Dale Bendler, a former CIA officer and owner and founder of Miami’s ONE.61 teen safety online course, agrees (well, at least the mom part). “If you see another mother with a child, approach her. If there are no children around, approach a woman or a teenage girl. In a mall, a park or a school — it doesn’t matter,” he said, adding Statistics that point to the majority of sex offenders being male.
Of course, many dads are also very helpful, although the dad in the TikTok video self-deprecatingly joked: “Stop looking for dad.” They don’t know anything. Although his comprehensive overview of things to do before a trip to the mall suggests otherwise (well done!).
Slingback moms everywhere agree – they’re on a mission.
In response to Rogerson’s TikTok, crossbody bag moms themselves weighed in, proving that the advice was spot on. “If you’re stuck and need help, please find one of us… we’ve noticed!” said one crossbody bag mom. Netizens also echoed:
- “Moms who wear a crossbody bag have their hands free and are ready to help.”
- “I’m going to work harder. Find me, I’m a crossbody bag grandma. We have super powers.
- “As a mom with a crossbody bag, you’re my baby until we find your parents, and even then, I need to quadruple-check. We still have snacks.
- “As a mom with a crossbody bag, you better believe I’m not giving up until these kids find their families.”
- “Mom here cross-body. I helped two lost kids in the same mall!
- “I’m a former crossbody teacher who travels a lot. At two different airports last month, random kids came up and stood with me, and they were obviously a little panicked about being alone.
- “As a mom who owns a crossbody bag, this is the best compliment ever, haha. I love that I’m known as a safe space for me and other kids”
How to teach your children what to do when they are lost
Bendler said this isn’t the only advice to heed if children are separated from their parents. He warned to keep advice simple because in a panic, everyone’s judgment can become clouded.
So, what should you tell your kids? “Don’t look around for Mom or Dad. Whether it’s in the city, the mall or the woods, stay where you are. Parents will remember where they last saw you and go back there,” he recommends telling children. “Approach anyone in uniform. If you’re not too far away, go into a building or store and ask for assistance. Make sure your child knows mom’s full name and phone number.
Some families will arrange a meeting place before entering a common area. Bendler said this may work based on age, but some children are too young for this recommendation. “If the child is over 10 years old and for some reason doesn’t have a cell phone, and the store is what we call a neighborhood mall that the family has been to a dozen times before… then arranging to meet their favorite store is a no-brainer Problem,” he said.
Still, Bendler says, choose your location wisely—Starbucks isn’t a good choice because there are too many, and stores like Macy’s are too big!
How to prepare if a parent loses a child
Parents can also be prepared by making sure they know what to do if they panic. Other TikTok suggestions share expert mom tips, including a viral video that instructs parents on exactly what to do, such as describing your missing child out loud instead of shouting their name. “Start looking for them loudly, instead of looking for them silently – start shouting: ‘I’m looking for a boy, 5 years old, short brown hair, brown eyes, white, red Nike T-shirt, brown shorts,'” and keep repeating it .
Additionally, Bendler says there are a few other things you can do when dealing with the loss of a child:
- Separate and return to the place where the child was last seen.
- At the same time, by dialing 911/police, they can call mall security or local security personnel at the destination.
- Send a photo of your child to the police and describe the clothing. They’ve handled similar calls before.
A big takeaway? Start having open conversations with your children early. Whether you instruct them to find crossbody moms, meet at a prearranged location when you break up, or both, it’s always the best time to be proactive.
