Toddlerhood in High Gear

Is there any such thing as truly child-proofing a house?

Oh sure, there are the cabinet locks and keeping breakables up high, but how about everyday life? Take yesterday, for example...

We're enjoying a peaceful lunch when my son spontaneously goes into melt-down mode, as though he's been hurt. He's in his high chair with his lunch and a few pieces of Kix cereal, left over from breakfast. I'm working at the counter, and turn to see that he's stuck his finger in his nose. Ahh, a booger? Lemme have a look. Nope, I don't see anything! I turn to continue what I'm doing, reassuring the little guy that everything's OK.

He begins to cry again, shouting "Nose! Nose!" with his finger up his nose. Yes, there's a finger in your nose! This time, I see the problem. He has a piece of cereal lodged in a nostril. No doubt the result of a toddler experiment. After a quick & unsuccessful attempt at removal, he cries to be picked up -- "Hug! Hug!" I quickly remove him from the high chair and he holds tight, resting his head on my shoulder. While I set him down to retrieve the Kix, he sneezes on my shoulder. A nice wet sneeze, and the offending Kix is propelled out. He grabs it before I can, and it disappers. Not in his nose this time...

Later, we play our laundry game, where I fold the clean clothes and my son unfolds them. Finally, I take the stacks of clean clothes and shuttle small piles to the stairs to be taken up. The little guy has gotten very good at stairs, both going up and down, so he climbs up to the landing (9 steps) and waits for me. No, we're not going up right now. Come on down. I go to grab another little pile for the stairs, when I hear...

Ca-THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP....

I kick myself for walking away from the stairs, and nearly have a panic attack. Thank goodness for a calm cucumber Daddy, who scoops up and comforts the little guy. He appears to be fine. There's no blood, nothing appears to be broken.  I'm glad the stairs are carpeted and happened to be lined with a "bumper" of clean clothes. (And yep, the gate is back up at the base of the stairs today.)

In no time at all, he's back to the business of being a toddler, running, laughing, and playing. Mom's heart still races.

After finishing up his dinner, he enjoys toting a few raisins around in his tiny dump truck. Dad points out to his son that raisins will fit up his nose, too!

Like he needs more ideas.

And I need more panic attacks.

I sure could go for a glass of wine.

Comments

[Marie]

Marie, how about Daddy shoves a few of those raisins up his nose?? LOL

What is it with men giving our little ones these ideas? And then, if the little one does it? Forget it!!

For example, my DH has always had this annoying habit of blowing his straw paper across the table when we go out. It's not all the time, but apparently enough for my girls to pick up on it. When my oldest started this little trick, DH was the first to jump all over her. I just sat across from him--giving him THE GLARE....He got the point. He doesn't do it anymore..

At least not in front of the kids...

As for a good drink, I've decided that if I start imbibing alcohol, I may never stop. LOL

You're a great mom! You can't protect kids from themselves, I've found--no matter how much you "child-proof".

Hang in there!

M.

[Arethusa]

Ouch! That reminds me of my little cousin who managed to acquire more bumps and minor booboos in his first two years than I did in my first ten--he just couldn't keep still, lol.

You and son will make it through fine. :D heart-racing included!

[Kristi]

LOL. Poor boy! But it could have been a worse nostril ornament than a Kix!

[InterstellarLass]

My sister put beads up each nostril when she was a kid. Mine never did that, thank goodness. But my daughter and I were intimate with poison control. She would eat anything. Some stuff I didn't even know where she got it!

[caltechgirl]

Heh. Life is about to get very interesting for you :)

[Melody]

LOL!!

Oh yes, just how do you toddler proof EVERYTHING???

Only two weeks ago Monet got a blood nose (from jumping up and down and landing on a toy), a grazed chin and bruised cheek (from falling down 5 concrete steps) and choked on a tiny biscuit that had lodged itself in her throat and I had to hang her upside down and thump her on the back!!! My pulse was beating fast all that week. Urgh. Yes and the local bottle shop did well out of us too!

[Marie]

M,
Yeah, too many calories in booze to really put it away! Though that hasn't stopped me with sweets...

Arethusa,
You're not kidding about the "can't keep still!" Even in his crib, he's kicking and running around (once he wakes up, of course). I don't look forward to having him leave the crib. ;-)

Kristi,
He's had crayons up his nose too. And probably other things I'm not thinking of right now. Fortunately, no crayola-ectomies YET!

Lass,
Oh, beads!! Oh oh oh! And Poison Control - knock on wood - only once so far!

CTG,
I'd say it's pretty interesting already! ;-)

Melody,
Oh my goodness! Remember when they used to just lay there quietly and smile?! Of course this stage is fun too, when they're not hurting themselves!! ;-)

[nat]

"Is there any such thing as truly child-proofing a house?" Yes, it's called "They Turn 18." (even then, lock up the liquor! tee hee)

[ReneeN]

Oh my I was so lucky! My DD didn't put anything up her nose other than her finger...that I know of.

When I was a kid, I stuck a piece of sponge up my nose and it stayed there long enough to start stinking. Mom had to take me to the DR for that one.

[running2ks]

Yes, wine. I admire your persistance, energy, fortitude, and inner strength. My friend dealt with it by getting her son a t-shirt that said "Small Fry Demolitions". She thought of hiring him out for tasks like that.