After Christmas we went on holiday and stayed in a house which had a cupboard full of toys! Our two had such fun exploring them all, but they fell in love with one toy each. For Aidan, it was a Spot the Dog toy with various baby activities on it, like crunchy ears, a squeaker and a mirror. For Sophia, it was a soft plush doll, who she called Laura.

They loved these toys so much that at the end of the holiday, I found myself online ordering them for our house. I even wrote Sophia a card and signed it from Laura, saying she missed her and would like to come to her house. Sophia slept with Laura (Laura 1) every night on holiday and every night since a replacement Laura (Laura 2) arrived in Aintree.

Today, I spent the whole day counting down to when we needed to leave for the Valentines Lullababy special, which I was taking Aidan and Sophia to. I asked Sophia which dolly she’s like to take to sing and dance with, she said ‘Laura’, obviously.

Even though I’d been anticipating leaving for the class all day, we somehow managed to be late! Somehow, Laura was on Aidan’s knee in the car, and he was trying to bite her, which Sophia thought was funny. We were a couple of minutes late when we arrived. I pulled up in front of a skip, hauled the pram out of the boot, unclipped Sophia, took Aidan out in his car seat, slotted him onto the chassis, grabbed the changing bag, put Sophia’s coat on and ran (literally) down the road.

The lovely Angie had her head out of the door looking for us as we arrived. She welcomed us, we took our coats and shoes off and as I went to get Aidan out of the pram, I saw no Laura.

‘Soph, where’s Laura?’.

‘Dunno’ was the response.

This was unfortunate, as it would have been good for Sophia to have a toy to do all the moves with in class. But never mind, Laura must just be in the car, surely? I texted Nathan to say that I might have lost Laura, but I’d know after class, and that he’d better get praying.

The class happened, it was delightful. Lots of love themed music and sensory trays. Soph was a bit shy to start off with but got into it, and I could see Aidan enjoyed having her there. Sophia helped collect up rose petals at the end. She was given a little bag of chocolates like the grownups.

It was when we were getting ready to leave that I remembered about Laura. It was possible that she had come off the pram as we ran. I checked on all the walls and between all the cars. No Laura. I approached our car and glanced in the backseat. No Laura. I checked the boot. No Laura. We went back up and down the road again. No Laura. I went on my hands and knees looking under the car. No Laura.

Us three are going to my Mum and Dad’s tomorrow. In my panic, I said ‘maybe she’s gone to Granny and Bubba’s to make sure it’s all OK for when we go tomorrow’ thinking I’d order another to be delivered to my Mum and Dad’s. But then a quick Google told me that any Lauras purchased today could not be guaranteed to get there before we leave, let alone tomorrow. Expletive.

‘Mummy, shall we call Granny and Bubba to ask if Laura is at their house’

‘yeah why not’.

So we call them and my Dad answers.

Sophia is straight in there ‘Bubba, has Laura come to your house?’

‘Laura?’

‘Yes, is she at your house?’

Over his shoulder to my Mum ‘Is Laura at our house?’

Me: ‘we think she’s on her way to your house. She was coming with us to Lullababy but she mentioned she might be going to your house, because we can’t find her now’

Mum, catching on, ‘oh yes! Well she’s not here yet, but she might be soon’.

Me: ‘We thought she’d like to come with us to Lullababy but we’ve checked in and all around the car and we can’t find her’

Mum: ‘well maybe she is coming here. How do you think she’s coming? It might take her a few days, she’s only got little legs’

Sophia: ‘she can’t actually walk, she’s only a dolly’

At which point I don’t know whether to laugh or cry into the steering wheel. Aidan is somehow managing to sleep through all the drama.

Mum: Mummy, you’re coming tomorrow, and you’re going first thing Monday, are you sure Laura will be at our house before you go home?’

Me: No, Granny, you’re right. My sources tell me that Laura could arrive before we go home, or just after. I did not think any of this through’.

Granny: okay well send me some details and I’ll see what I can do to speed up her journey.

Me: thanks Granny.

Soph: bye Granny!

I was so calm in Lullababy but by this point I was starting to stress.

Sophia: she’ll turn up. But Laura’s Mummy will be very sad if she’s gone.

Me: are you sad Soph?

Soph: very very sad. I’m going to blow this balloon up until she comes home.

Upon getting home, I looked on Vinted to see if there were any Laura’s we could have as a spare in case this happens again. I ordered one for £1 (Laura 3) but it still won’t be arriving for ages.

I then put up a plea on Crosby Bubble, asking if anybody had seen her. By this point, I’d remembered the skip and how it was fuller when we came back to the car than when we left, and I suspected that Laura had ended up in there under a load of old tiles.

I watched the Crosby Bubble post for half an hour or so, knowing it was my only hope that this would be sorted before bedtime, but very much doubtful.

Not longer after it had been shared, a lady called Kellie commented saying that they have two of those same dolls, and that we were welcome to one if ours didn’t turn up. What a hero! I messaged her and, even though I tried, she said she didn’t want any money for it. She even offered to bring it over, but as we’re in Aintree I said I’d go and pick it up.

Tea was nearly ready, but I said to Nathan and Sophia ‘I’ve gotta go’.

‘Why?!’

I just grinned at him. ‘Has somebody found her?!’

‘Yes!’ with a big wink, and I passed him my phone to read the messages.

‘Soph, I don’t think Laura got very far on the way to Granny and Bubba’s. I’ve had some intel about where she might be, so I’m going to go and see if I can get her’.

I grabbed an unopened box of chocolates, scribbled a thank you card, and drove back to Crosby.

Kellie was going so she had left Laura in her porch. I swapped her for the chocolates and the card, and popped Laura (Laura 4) on the front seat.

When I got in, I held her behind my back and walked into the kitchen. Soph said ‘have you got her?’ ‘YES!’ I said, showing her. She was chuffed to bits, cuddling her and asking her where she’s been.

There was about 5 minutes of joy. And then came an angry ‘don’t you run away from me ever again!’ At which Nathan and I both roared with laughter and I nearly spat out my tea.

First World problems, I know. But I think I need a lie down in a dark room after that.

It’s so nice that somebody was willing to help us out. There’s a lot of good in the world, if you look for it. Thanks for saving the day, Kellie!