I went grocery shopping last week at Costco. They had an instant rebate on chocolate chip cookies with an unlimited number you could buy. My family loves Costco chocolate chip cookies and as I stood in front of the cookies and contemplated how many I should pick up, the mother in me won out; I only got one package.

When I got home my husband was still at work, my youngest daughter was babysitting, and my other daughter was still in Japan. So I decided I would put the cookies in our large freezer and save them for when we went camping next weekend. Then I went off and met a friend for lunch.

I told my daughter to text me when she got home because she was walking home alone. So I get the “I’m home” text, followed a minute later by a “Can I have a cookie?” text. When I’m out with people I try not to  pay attention to my phone, but since I had warned my friend my daughter would be texting me, she didn’t think twice when I sent my daughter a quick reply: “Yes, you can have a cookie.”

My daughter didn’t keep texting me, nor I her, but the whole scenario distracted me. I was contemplating those cookies; thinking I must have forgotten to put them in the freezer as I intended. But I could have sworn I put them in the freezer, because I remember putting them behind the roast where no one would find them since no one goes looking for frozen meat products besides me. I shook off my bafflement so I could reengage in my lunch visit. I was not going to admit to my friend I was distracted by a package of cookies.

When I got home I mentioned to my daughter I had meant to hide the cookies in the freezer and how I must’ve forgotten. She said, “No, I found them in the freezer.” It was rather odd how my daughter seemed to know there were cookies in the freezer. She never looks in the freezer for anything unless she knows there is some sort of treat in there. Upon further questioning, she told me she knew I went shopping and she was hoping for ice cream.

I still find it rather remarkable she found the cookies within minutes of walking in the front door, because it would have required she bend over at the waist to see them behind the roast. This is one of those people whom I share my home with that can’t seem to find anything when sent looking. Yet she somehow knew there was something sweet to eat in the freezer. Maybe cookies really can call your name?

She is not the only one of the people I share my home with who can’t locate items. My oldest daughter may be able to find the things I send her for if only she could remember what it was she went looking for, where I said it would be, and how important it was that she find it. So I really have no frame of reference on whether she would be good at finding things if she didn’t get distracted on the way. I’m assuming she wouldn’t based on the results from the other two people living in my house.

My husband can’t find anything I send him for either, yet he can see a vintage car hidden in the forest a mile away. Maybe it calls out to him like those cookies called out to my daughter?

Most often when I ask a family member to look for something for me, it is not hidden away. It’s usually in plain sight. The key is they must actually listen to my directions, watch where I’m pointing my finger, and remember what they are looking for. Plus, if it’s not for them, they are less likely to find it.

But before you think the cookie incident has made me lose my touch for hiding things, don’t worry. When I need to hide things, I can hide things. I’ve come home to find my family tearing apart my bedroom looking for my chocolate stash. When I attempted to hide those cookies, the heat of the summer day and the rush to make lunch on time probably addled my brain.

Next time I attempt to hide a package of cookies, I should probably put them near the cleaning supplies. I’m pretty sure no one would go looking there.

Gretchen Leigh is a stay-at-home mom who lives in Covington. She is committed to writing about the humor amidst the chaos of a family. You can read her column every week on covingtonreporter.com/lifestyles. You can also read more of her writing and her daily blog on her website livingwithgleigh.com.