I found a... child in the woods.

Way to go , man. I doubt that the dad or the girl have any idea what you guys might have saved her from. The very least of which might have been some panic and stress until she found them again.
If she'd had to stay out there all night or longer it could have ended badly.
Thank you for that, you deserve to be thanked.
Iz
 
fmajor007 said:
Ditto that!!!

Additionally, the 12-year-old's dad should be slapped for his

1) stupidity/failure to maintain proximity to his *daughter* (this is in America - home of the pedophiles)
2) failure to express proper/genial appreciation.

It takes only 1 time to have something forever change life.

Thanks for being the "Good Guys".
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I'll second all of this. I don't care how embarrassed he might be for his shortcomings, he should still be able to muster up a "Thank you" when it comes to his daughter's life.
 
Also possible the dad didn't say anything because he was biting his tongue to hide his anger at her for embarassing him. Not saying that he should have felt that way... just sayin' it's not unreasonable to think that he was pissed and waiting until you were out of earshot to yell at her.
 
As a father of 2 girls, thank you. That could have been alot worse. I worked SaR for a little while, and I have been out looking for people that went 50yds off the trail, and found 2 days later. Guy should have his ass kicked for losing his kid, though. And not showering you with thank you's. I usually don't let my kids out of my sight, but I am WAY overprotective of my girls. I am getting better about letting go, but it still makes my guts churn when I can't see them in the woods. Thanks again, brother. Moose
 
Skrapmetal said:
Also possible the dad didn't say anything because he was biting his tongue to hide his anger at her for embarassing him. Not saying that he should have felt that way... just sayin' it's not unreasonable to think that he was pissed and waiting until you were out of earshot to yell at her.
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Very true. Drawn out fear will often turn into anger once all the fears running through the mind are quelled. Emotions are a lot like energy they don't really do a sudden stop...they transfer and wane. I know once I got past the fear it would have turned to anger at my daughter (at age 12) as well as myself. I'd just like to think under such circumstances I'd still be able to at least manage a thank you.
 
Moosez45 - I sure hope that post was in jest. Having raised three sons from birth into adulthood, I can say with a certainty that even the best watched children get separated from their parents in a second. Anyways, a whole lot is being read into the OP without any further info. The girl was found and reunited with her family, which is good enough. Good job.
 
Joben said:
Thats odd...

Sounds like he was embarrassed/in denial.
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Embarrassed, my....:mad: I know you are trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but I don't care how embarrassed you are that you screwed up, when somebody reunites you with your lost child you say thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Of course if you're a complete piece of work, maybe not.

Good job by the OP taking care of things:thumbup:
 
I'm glad you guys did the right thing and looked after that girl while helping her. I agree that the dad was probably embarrassed, suspicious, or both. But although a simple thank you would have been appreciated, recognition is not why you guys did what you did. My hat goes down to you both. :thumbup:
 
Ok, as someone who hopes to have kids in the near future, and realizes that I'll probably make some major mistakes (such as loosing one of them in the wilderness). What advice can you seasoned folk supply to the rest of us. So far I have:
1. Thank the kind man who returns your daughter to you.
2. Give your children a loud whistle when outdoors.
3. Keep a cellphone handy.

Any other pointers?
 
CoyotePhysics said:
Ok, as someone who hopes to have kids in the near future, and realizes that I'll probably make some major mistakes (such as loosing one of them in the wilderness). What advice can you seasoned folk supply to the rest of us. So far I have:
1. Thank the kind man who returns your daughter to you.
2. Give your children a loud whistle when outdoors.
3. Keep a cellphone handy.

Any other pointers?
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Give your future kids a copy of "My Side of the Mountain", "Hatchet", and maybe a couple of things along those lines, IMHO.
 
Way to go! It takes a bit of nerve to do what you did and not just turn and go, as some may have done. My daughter is 12 and I thank you for what you did for the lost girl. The lost girls father was out of line IMO.
 
tknife said:
Glad you were able to help her out. The father sounds like a real piece of work though.
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Not necessarily.

Imagine the fear, the worry ... and the relief. Followed swiftly by embarrassment and guilt.

Yes, he should've thanked them. But it doesn't take much empathy to understand why he didn't.

The deed is 'thanks' enough.:):thumbup:
 
If you do the right thing because you know it's the right thing to do, then you already have your reward :thumbup:

It doesn't matter what dad said one way or the other ;)
 
jgon said:
Honestly, he was probably either embarrassed that he got separated from her, or worse, and he thought you were trying something fishy with his 12 year old daughter. That would be extremely unfortunate, but just know that you did the right thing, and you don't need his thanks to feel good about getting that girl back with her family.
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Exactly what I was thinking.
Don't let it discourage you one bit.
And, put yourself in the girl's shoes - how do you approach a kid who you yourself would advise against talking to strangers - especially in such a vulnerable situation? Sounds to me like you did a great job and you and your buddy were thinking.
 
I am bothered, like others here, that he didn't say thank you. I wonder if he just didn't really take the situation seriously. I can't really understand how that could be the case but I also don't see how embarrassment could keep him from rendering thanks. To me ambivalence and ignorance seems more plausible.
 
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