So today we went to my friends house for a playdate.  She has a daughter, R, who is Sam's age and another daughter, S, who is a few months younger than Kit.  So R and Sam get along great and play.  Well today we were planning on going outside, so I put sunscreen on Sam and R first and then on Baby Kit.  My friend had let the girls in the garage and opened the garage door (didn't tell me that).  Well when I thought it was a little too quiet, I went to check on the girls and they were GONE.  My freaking heart sank and I felt PANIC flood thru my veins.
I called to friend and she said calmly, "Oh they probably went on the side deck."  (Their house is very high.  There is an enclosed side deck.  But behind the house is a fairly large creek that is cerainly deep enough to cause trouble.)
So I ran to the side deck and the girls were not there.  So I called back, "NO!"  All that kept racing thru my mind is that they found a way to the creek and what if they got in the water...
"Oh relax and don't worry, they probably went next door," my friend said eerily calm.  "R runs over there all the time."
Well I didn't give two figs and a cookie what R does when my Sam is not there but MY Sam was gone!  So I sternly said to my friend, "This is NOT acceptable.  You need to go inside and look for the girls while I go next door and look.  NOW!"  And I ran next door.
As soon as I got there, I saw that the car was not in the driveway, but the door was open.  As I went inside I heard two little voices giggling.
"SAMANTHA, R, you get here RIGHT now!" I said firmer than I think I EVER said anything.  I'm not sure what I said next, but I had those girls in a line and marching (literally cause I said march and they took me literally...) back to my friends house.  I immediately put Sam in time out and let her have it.  My friend did the same with R.
After a few minutes, Sam came over to me and for the first time, I got a really sincere apology. 
"Mama, I am so sorry.  I won't go outside anymore with out you.  I don't want a mean man to get me."
"Do you know how that made Mama feel?" I asked.
"Sad," Sam answered.
"And how else?" I queried further.
"Angry and scared," Sam said.
"Do not do that EVER again,: I told her.
"I won't and I love you Mama," Sam said as she hugged me.
Now my friend's daughter only yelled the whole time she was in time out.  And once I let Sam out, my friend let R out but never talked about what she did.  All R said was that she wanted to go outside and play.
I really like my friend, but it is clear that she lets her kid just run amuck.  I mean Sam followed R but it was at her house and I truly think she was following R's lead.  Sam NEVER does that at home.  And after it happened, I KNOW she was sorry.  She actually brought it up several times today.
How can my friend just think it is acceptable to let her 3 year old run out unsupervised and just assume that it is ok???????  It just blows my mind. 
Well at least I know that when the girls get bigger, Sam will not be allowed over with out me!