What would you do?

Have you all seen that show? The Dateline type show that puts people in situations to see what they would really do... if they saw their best friends husband on a date... if they saw a woman being abused... if their waiter was doing weird things to their food? I felt like I was put into that situation twice.

Yesterday afternoon I was on car-rider duty and went to get the kiddos. On my way home, I was sitting at a four way stop on a neighborhood street that is very busy during school drop-off and pick-up. I notice a little boy playing in the yard, by himself. There were no adults around. I see a home with a door open (but with a storm door). This little boy is older than Eliza but younger than Silas. As he is running around I notice that he thinks the cars going every which way are funny, and he begins to play around with the cars. He started stepping out into the street and laughing at the cars stopping to make sure not to hit him. I had a gut feeling that someone did not know that this child was out and about. So I pulled over and went to the kid. This young child had hearing aids in both ears. I let him take me to the door of his home and I began to knock and yell "hello" in the door. After a minute or two a lady came to the door with toothbrush in mouth. I informed her that the little boy was in the street, and she seemed shocked. I thought my job was over, I kept the little boy safe and returned him home. But, I could not quit thinking about it. I wondered if I should have done more. I can tell you that from outward appearances this lady looked more like his childcare provider than his mother, and I wondered if she was his childcare worker if she would pass on the information that the boy had opened the front door to the home and was freely playing on a busy street without the caretakers knowledge. I wondered if I should have called someone to report it... I wondered if I did all I needed to.

Well, this morning I had the chance again. Usually the boys ride the bus to school in the morning, but we have had a sub driver the past 2 days and they have been early. In an effort to RUN out the door to get the bus, Callan's lunch was left at home and I had to take it to him. I have learned that it is easier to get the lunch to the school before 8:35 so that I can walk it right to him rather than sign his lunch in and wait for them to call him to the office when they get a chance. It was on my way home that I looked toward the little wandering boys home again. This morning, I saw for vans parked outside the house on the side of the street and mom's were standing around everywhere with astonished looks on their faces. In an effort to check on the boy I stopped and asked if everyone was there because a little boy was in the street? They confirmed it and told me that he was dodging cars in the street this morning and they had been trying to get an adult to come to the door for a while with no luck. One mom was on the phone with the police department because they started fearing (since there was no answer) that something had happened to the adult in the home. I do not know what happened after that, but I told the woman on the phone with the police that I had returned the boy home yesterday as well. Finally, the same lady came to the door again... she was in the shower, and the boy took it upon himself to escape.

I do not know if I am supposed to do anything else for this child who could have easily been killed 2 times in the past 24 hours. I told Brent that I wanted to take a door lock that can be put on the door out of reach by their home, but don't know if that is my place. I do not know if the police went to check on them, I do not know if the child's mother was informed. I am worried about this little boy who has a new passion for escaping locked doors and playing dodge with cars. What would you do?