When Lubbock Stepped Up For A Missing Girl— and When It Should’ve Sat Down

Lubbock recently sprang into action to help find a missing 11-year-old girl, and honestly, this city deserves a standing ovation. When it mattered, people looked up from their phones, checked their neighborhoods, shared information, and did what good humans are supposed to do. No drama, no judgment, just heart.

The disappointing part? The sidelines. Specifically, the handful of people on social media who saw a child in danger and thought, “Perfect time to lecture strangers about parenting!”

This wasn’t a TED Talk. This wasn’t a parenting symposium. This was about a kid who needed help, period.

Goal #1: Find the girl.

Goal #2: Mind your own business.

This whole situation reminded me of a story from when my own little brother went missing as a toddler. Our entire block mobilized instantly — no judgment, no blame, just action. And where did we finally find him?

Inside the house. Sitting on the toilet. Joyfully splashing in toilet water like he’d just discovered the world’s grossest kiddie pool.

Now tell me: What helpful parenting advice could anyone possibly offer after that? Kids are unpredictable little chaos goblins. Sometimes they wander. Sometimes they hide. Sometimes they turn the bathroom into SeaWorld. It happens.

And that’s the point. When a child goes missing, you help. If you’re not helping, then keep your “Well actually…” comments to yourself.

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So yes — Lubbock gets an A+ for showing up when it counted. And for the folks at home throwing stones instead of offering solutions? They get a big, bold, uncurved D for “Did absolutely nothing.”