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Most parents have a 911 story of some kind.

Maybe their toddler accidentally dialed the numbers or their older child called 911 as a prank.

Then there are the amazing kids who quickly ascertain that a medical emergency is in progress, call 911 and save a family member's life.

My child calls 911 to tell the operator that I have "runned away."

From time to time, I have teased my children that I will run away. When they are cranky, uncooperative or disobedient, I tell them that I am going to pack my bags and go live with our retired and childless neighbors.

My 6-year-old daughter Zoe always retorts that she will find me and bring me back home.

And evidently, she meant what she said.

A few weekends ago my husband traveled afar to attend a cousin's wedding and boozy reception. I stayed at home with the children and planned fun-filled activities, such as lounging in our pajamas and a visit to the zoo.

But after a tumultuous Saturday of low and high blood sugars - Zoe is a Type 1 diabetic - and a Sunday morning of assisting in both the preschool Sunday School and Children's Church, my sunny nature had turned cloudy.

My 3-year-old, Harmony, was almost finished with her bowl of chicken noodle soup and asked for some help with those last few bites. But she refused to open her mouth and maliciously smiled.

Now of course, this is not a big deal. A well-rested parent would conclude that Harmony was done with her meal.

But for some reason, those sealed lips angered me. And rather than yell at a small child with pasta on her cheeks and cracker crumbs in her hair, I stormed to my personal prayer closet, the mailbox.

Zoe, who had been busy coloring and asking where her ice cream was, did not see me pacing at the end of the driveway - I was too obscured by shaggy, overgrown bushes.

So she did the logical thing. She called 911 and told the operator that I had "runned away." Then she shared that she was a Type 1 diabetic and a first-grader.

After some of my frustration had passed, I felt ready to return to the house and commence cleaning Harmony, the table, the booster seat and the floor. And then the kitchen.

I entered the house, only to be confronted with Zoe who said that she thought I had "runned away." She was scared she added, so she called 911 and she hoped I wouldn't be mad.

Initially, I thought she was joking but then she handed me the phone and a friendly voice asked if everything was OK.

I explained the situation and could only laugh after ending the call. Still, I felt relieved that Zoe knows how to obtain assistance in an emergency.

And I felt more than a little shamed.

When not struggling to keep an even temper at home with the kids, Janice Carmac works as an editorial assistant for the News & Record. She can be reached at janice.carmac@news-record.com or 373-7098.