The fact is that life with small kids is intense. Though many days can pass by in parent-dulling and child-stabilizing repetition of routines, other days are incredibly accident prone. Stuff just happens, or nearly happens. It's such a bizarre polarity, come to think of it. Building sand castles day-in day-out seems like the norm until it's one of those every-hour critical-hour days.
Yesterday, for one, we were visiting friends and I shadowed Baby with each army-style crawl move he took. Being a Good 'n Vigilant Mom (on this day at that particular hour), I noticed right away that he pincer grasped something into his mouth. I thought it was a piece of dried grass (logical, un-panicky mom). It turned out to be a 1 cm times 0.5 cm triangle of very sharp plastic. Oh my God!! (Yes, the panicky mom, big time).
Conclusion:
Thank God I was vigilant and got it out of his mouth in time. No damage done, this stuff happens, could have been bad but the outcome was good. Input bad, output good. Something like that.
Today, for a second example, I had to quickly vacuum downstairs. "Quickly" since I was alone with the boys and "vacuum" since the dog's shedding loads. Vacuum kitchen, done. Vacuum living room (note: around the corner), almost done when I notice Big Boy crying (again for umpteenth time). I glance back to the kitchen again and in a micro-second go over "What's Wrong with the Picture." What was wrong was that instead of sitting in his high chair, strapped in, Baby Boy was sitting on top of his high chair feeding tray (the Ikea model). What!!? How did that happen?? Crazy stuff.
Half a heart attack later, Baby Boy was successfully and safely in loving motherly arms.
Lesson. Don't turn around for 1 second. Monitor at 50 cm face-to-face distance at all times. It's that development stage again. The 'arsenic' months, instead of the Arsenic Hours (when most accidents occur, between 4-7 pm).
Vigilance is key. Reason for many panicky moments and general stress. But for now I'll focus not on the what-ifs but on the 'we made its!'
Yesterday, for one, we were visiting friends and I shadowed Baby with each army-style crawl move he took. Being a Good 'n Vigilant Mom (on this day at that particular hour), I noticed right away that he pincer grasped something into his mouth. I thought it was a piece of dried grass (logical, un-panicky mom). It turned out to be a 1 cm times 0.5 cm triangle of very sharp plastic. Oh my God!! (Yes, the panicky mom, big time).
Conclusion:
Thank God I was vigilant and got it out of his mouth in time. No damage done, this stuff happens, could have been bad but the outcome was good. Input bad, output good. Something like that.
Today, for a second example, I had to quickly vacuum downstairs. "Quickly" since I was alone with the boys and "vacuum" since the dog's shedding loads. Vacuum kitchen, done. Vacuum living room (note: around the corner), almost done when I notice Big Boy crying (again for umpteenth time). I glance back to the kitchen again and in a micro-second go over "What's Wrong with the Picture." What was wrong was that instead of sitting in his high chair, strapped in, Baby Boy was sitting on top of his high chair feeding tray (the Ikea model). What!!? How did that happen?? Crazy stuff.
Half a heart attack later, Baby Boy was successfully and safely in loving motherly arms.
Lesson. Don't turn around for 1 second. Monitor at 50 cm face-to-face distance at all times. It's that development stage again. The 'arsenic' months, instead of the Arsenic Hours (when most accidents occur, between 4-7 pm).
Vigilance is key. Reason for many panicky moments and general stress. But for now I'll focus not on the what-ifs but on the 'we made its!'
Phew, I hear you!
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