Not long after I found my perfect spot for people watching they announced that my flight would be delayed an hour. SUHWEET...more people watching AND time for a big delicious diet pepsi, over ice, in a cup, with a lid and a straw, the best way to drink it (coulda been made even better if it had been delivered to me by the hubz...but still yummy). So I got my drink and found an even better spot for people watching and settled in.
I was sitting there having casual conversation with a few others waiting for our flight when a frantic woman carrying a screaming (almost purple) infant and dragging a 3 yr old behind her came up to me and shoved her baby at me and said, "You look like you know what to do" and walked away. (yes really)
I looked at the people around me for confirmation that what had just happened REALLY did just happen. Then went to work calming down the screaming infant in my arms. She calmed down right away and turned into the most beautiful pink little girl. My guess was that she was about 4 wks old. I began looking around for mom, then decided to update my facebook status...this was far too good not to share. Surely she would be back soon, in the meantime I could have a good laugh over the insanity of it all with my friends. I then started talking to my husband "Forget about Colorado, i just scored a newborn baby girl, meet me in luggage claim...STAT!" we laughed a little saying this would make the best movie of the week ever...you know couple who wants a baby actually has one handed to them in an airport..AND she is darling, and SHE is a GIRL!!
And they all lived happily ever after....awwww
Oh ha ha ha...it was all so funny....
until...10 minutes passed...
hmmm...wait is she coming back?
The comments on my facebook status were rolling in and they were all changing from oh that's crazy to wait, what? this is insane!! and suddenly the reality of the situation hit me. I mean really who does that? Just hands off their infant to a total stranger and is gone for...OH 25 min now.
I am now looking around for security...I mean really. I am giving her 10 more minutes and then I am going to call the cops.
33 minutes later she comes strolling back with her toddler in tow....
Crazy Lady (CL): Oh my gosh it was horrible he had a major poop blow out it was up his back and all the way down to his toes and socks, Oh it was so gross! I had to bathe him in the sink and then find someone to get our luggage.
Me: (still holding her baby) oh no...
CL: yeah and then they told me I couldn't get my luggage and I had already thrown away his clothes and just had his sweatshirt wrapped around his waist.
Me: (STILL holding the baby) oh wow...
CL: so then they told me they could look for something in lost and found so that took forever.
Me: (STILL holding HER baby) yeah you were gone for a long time...
CL: uh yeah tell me about it. But they finally found some clothes and then he didn't want to put them on so I had to bribe him and that took forever.
Me: (still holding her BABY) yeah, wow I was getting worried. I was starting to think you weren't coming back.
CL: (laughs) oh yea could you imagine?
Me: (still holding her baby) umm yeah it was starting to feel surreal, I mean who just hands their baby off like that, I coulda been some nutcase or something.
CL: oh no, I looked around for a long time to find someone who looked safe, I knew you were safe, I just knew it. And look I was right.
Me: (still holding her BABY) Yeah, but you don't know how bad I want a baby. I was telling my husband to meet me at luggage claim.
CL: oh hee hee (finally reaching out for her baby)
Me: (handing the baby over to her) Yeah...good thing you came back when you did.
CL: oh, yeah...hee hee...OK well thanks.
I managed to snap a quick picture of her on the plane (oh how I wish I had thought about taking a close up of this beautiful baby, perfection)...YES she was on my flight.
So yeah, no free baby for me...and it was a very bizarre situation, very bizarre. I mean really, this sort of thing only happens to me.
58 Dandelion Wishes Made:
That is one of the strangest stories I think I have ever heard!
that is insane! who does that? she is lucky you are totally sane or she could have had a missing baby on her hands! crazy! and by the way...if i was crazy and needed to pawn my baby off on a total stranger, i'd so pick you! IF!
Wow, that is so weird! I would NEVER hand my baby to someone I didn't know and leave! Glad you aren't crazy and decided to run off with the girl!
That is just crazy!
Shut! UP!!! Are you kidding me!? Who does that? I don't care if there is a poop blow out. If she thought you were that trustworthy, why not ask you to come to the bathroom with her and hold the screaming baby while she cleaned up the poo? At least she could watch you? Who Does That?
You should've called the police the moment she did that. She should be under investigation with the CPS. That's INSANE. NO WAY, NO HOW WOULD I EVER hand my baby or child to a stranger, especially in an airport.
OMG! that is CRAZY!! i am almost speechless on that one!! its a good thing you weren't that nadia chick- ya know "octomom" cause you for sure wouldn't have given the baby back then! WOW!! LOL
Um...WHAT? Although I must say, airports make people do strange things. On one of my trips back across the country to school I was sitting next to a woman and baby on the plane and suddenly she shoves her baby at me and goes "hold him"....uh...yeah... luckily I like babies and my crazy lady didn't walk away...
Ummmm.....wow. Child protective services anyone? Geez. I'm glad ur not a nutcase lol.
Seriously who does that??!! Let me tell you there are crappy (literally) things that can happen with kids sometimes but never in my life have I thought about passing them off to a complete stranger to help myself out!
You have yourself a story that will win awards for you lol. No one will be able to top it and you have the photo to prove it! Wow, in this day and age how anyone could trust someone so much. It makes me wonder(a lot) about her.
Anne
Wow, that's a crazy story if I ever heard one. I would have been tempted to take the baby home too. I guess they always say "don't leave your luggage with strangers" but don't bother to mention children. ;)
Way funny. And crazy.
Hello INSANE person? Seriously, could not believe what I was reading, and was waiting for you to say at the end that you actually knew the woman. Who does that? Sheesh, people these days!
Good thing you weren't a wacko woman crazy enough to steal a baby that you REALLY want!
WOW! I am in shock. I was just at SFO and freaked out that I couldn't see my 3 year old in a store, she went down the wrong isle. I can't imagine leaving a small child over 30 minutes with a complete stranger. She was lucky to pick a nice strange.
I didn't even like to hold the baby off to the flight attendent to pee. I fly with an elastic waistband so I can get them up and down with baby in arms. Maybe she was off her meds
She certainly sounded desperate and travelling alone, I guess she was frantic for help. I am glad you were there to help her out with the baby, while she tended to the toddler.
Holy Crap! I can't believe how stupid people are! I am just...shocked!
Freaky!!! How strange people are! So glad it worked out though!
This is just wild!
I would never hand my baby off to a stranger, but at least this nutty woman picked somebody safe! You have the oddest experiences!
Totally Unreal! Really..who does that? Obviously..she does! I would take my toddler on the plane smellling like poo before I would hand my baby off to a total stranger!! CR-AAAAAZY!
Wow! I was reading your post and thought okay where is the I woke up part but it really happened. That is so crazy! Thank goodness she choose a sane loving women instead of some crazy weirdo. Thanks for sharing that really was a surreal way to start a trip!
I am a little late by a month or so responding to comments but thanks for stopping by.
That is crazy!!! I would never in my life hand my baby to a stranger. Good thing she really did find someone safe but you never can tell! I am sitting here just in shock!!!
When you travel alone with a child or children it can be hard. But I know I would not just leave my child with anyone. I am glad she found you. That was so kind...
I just cannot wrap my brain around what happened to you! Was this mother super young? I don't even think my 10-year-old daughter would EVER hand her baby sister off to a perfect stranger! You must have been in the right place at the right time. That's all I gotta say! Wow.
OMG that is so crazy!!!!! I can't imagine handing off my baby to a stranger. It does sound like her situation was tragic but still. Ok I'm still in shock! Well take it as a compliment that she could see just how wonderful you are. Really, I'm still in shock!
We were in a restuarant once and the lady next to us had a newborn that would not quit crying. She was trying everything, but nothing was soothing her. My husband being the smart ass that he is, said something to the effect of "My god, can't she shut that thing up" so she walked over and handed him the baby and said "No, can you?" and walked away. He was speechless and has since learned to keep his big mouth shut.
That is just bat-shit crazy! Who in their right mind leaves a baby with a stranger?
OH MY! seriously I agree with most comments WHO DOES THAT? I don't care how "SAFE" you look I would never ever ever ever in a million years just hand a new born over, I am 29weeks prego and this child has been such a challenging pregnancy she isn't leaving my sight for a few years!
people like that make me mad!
On the other hand, I am so glad it was you that she picked instead of a real insane person. Vivienne had a good idea take you in the bathroom with her...
Very interesting. I gotta tweet this!
It must be an international thing, too. Last time I was in the Amsterdam airport, I had a long layover and was trying to get Jake to take a nap when a lady walks up to me and asks if I'll keep my eye on her 2 children (an infant and toddler) while she goes and gets a drink because she just can't handle them both. I just stared at her in disbelief and she walked off. I thought that meant she'd just walk to the pop machines or small vendor about 50 feet from us, but no. She went to a different part of the airport and had a meal. She was gone for over 30 minutes. I was in shock!
It's a really random feeling. You almost feel like whoa! maybe I need to call security because this mother is apparently unfit.
How scary is that! I can see maybe a 2 year old, but a newborn- NEVER! (still any child that is really scary!) You should have just stolen her- or at least hid so she had to actually look for you when she came back! lol
Almost unbelievable, but not really cause there are definitely some C-R-A-Z-Y people out there! I'm sorry that you had to deal with this nutcase - you have to take a test to get a drivers license, but anyone can have a baby!
Glad you're apparently back home safe and sound.
Have a great day!
I am speechless!
I would have to agree with the lady that said I would just have a stinking poo smelling toddler on the plane before I handed my 4 WEEK OLD newborn off to a complete stranger! OMG! Crazy lady is right! I'm glad you were there!
OMG!!REALLY!! I could never imagine handing over ANY CHILD to a stranger...I mean FIND A COP or something!! Someone who at least works there if you are THAT desperate!! Not like the baby would have gotten up and walked away...take her WITH YOU!! Unreal. I don't know what I would have done, I think I would have gone to the cops right away...CRAZY LADY is RIGHT!! Good for you though... ;)bizarre...
Ohhh poor thing!!! Traveling by herself with two kids... and then diaper drama!!! That can make a seasoned veteran Mom a little frazzled!!! You should consider yourself EXTREMELY complimented for radiating "safe" and "good" to someone in need. I'm sure it would have been nice to have a little explanation so you could have known what to expect better... but how sweet are you to help out! :) Sorry you didn't get to keep her! ;)
OMG, that is crazy!!!
That is so freaking strange???? And at SJC? Really?????
Oy vey!!!!!
Ya, that would have never in a million years happened to me!
And I would never hand my (any age) baby off to a total stranger! Wow! Total craziness!
more than crazy. i dare say someone so reckless doesn't deserve a baby.
since when did her 'crap' become YOUR problem?
funny story!
macey
WOW! That's pure insanity. I am surprised that you didn't immediately find security!
That is the craziest thing ever. And the thought of what COULD have happened had she chose someone else, someone crazy, to hold that baby...*shudder* Thank goodness you were there and loved that baby for 33 minutes. Maybe your comment at the end of the conversation was a wake up call to that stressed out momma. :)
I can't believe it! (I know, everyone is saying that.) What a great story though. You will always have it, and it will be a hit at parties. ;)
I love your last comment to her. Like....I know you are stressed but really...there are people out there who can't have kids who are dying to be as stressed out as you are right now. Next time, find a security officer or something like that to come with you to help you.
How freaking bonkers is that mother for leaving her baby with a complete stranger? That's nuts. At least she chose you!
I still can totally not believe this.
I mean, I'm glad she gave the baby to YOU, and not someone who would run off with her. But still...?
And man would that have been tempting to show up home with a new baby! :)
I still am in SHOCK about this story. I read it live on your FB and I was stunned. I'm glad you were able to hold such a sweet baby, but that lady is CRAZY! No way am I handing my kid over to a stranger. She's nuts! Luckily you weren't and kept her baby safe! I LOVE that you got a picture of her! LOL!
I don't even know what to say to that!!! Crazy with a capital C.
Wow! That is seriously a super crazy story!
LOL I was loving that night on facebook and was SOOOO hoping that God sent you the baby girl you've always wanted. (Without the stretchmarks and mood swings...can you imagine?)
Shucks.
I hope someone reads your blog and recognizes their sister/friend/daughter. That'd be hilarious.
Perhaps she was unaware that you can bring a stroller all the way to the plane. It would have made her life so much easier had she been able to set the baby in the stroller. And why no spare outfit in the diaper bag? This was one Mother who would have failed the "Are You Ready To Be A Mother" test.
Stories like this confirm my thinking that some people should not be allowed to reproduce!
wow. that is all I have to say about that. wow.
:) Sorry you couldn't keep the perfection!
Holy cow that's an awesome story! I'm sorry you didnt' get to keep that beautiful baby girl ;)
Ummm wow! ... I dont quite know what to say. Thank Goodness you werent some lunatic. How would she have explained that to the police "Well officer I gave my baby to a stranger and now i cant find them!"
I agree with previous commentors - very strange! But I'd trust you with my baby.
WHAT! That is crazy. I've had moments where I have felt like "crazy lady", but never would I have left my baby with someone I didn't know FOR 30 MINUTES!!! Even if it were the nicest looking person. She was lucky to have someone as wonderful as you to help out in a crazy situation.
WOW! That is Beyond INSANE! She is definetly a few frys short of a Happy Meal! Who does someting like that....without explaing to you why she needs help...just walks away....for SO long?? CRAZY!
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