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November 29, 2007
"Home Alone"
Our little girl gave us a scare today. I went out to the back porch with some trash, turned around, and she was shutting the door in my face. And of course, I had forgotten to completely unlock it just in case like I usually do. Ack!! Freak out time.
She's peering up at me through the glass like "Why aren't you coming back inside, Mommy?" I'm smiling back at her while inside praying like crazy. She tried for the doorknob saying, "Hep, Hep." I'm like, "No, you need to help Mommy." :) For a minute I thought she'd be able to turn the lock, but nope. Then she went for the deadbolt, and I'm like, "No, no, no!"
Meanwhile my brain is whirring with what to do. I have no cell phone with me, and it's still 40 minutes until Peter gets home. I've got to either try to keep her near the door and windows so I can watch her or try to get to a phone across the street fast to call Peter home to save the day, but I hate to run that far away from her.
Just then she went away from the door toward the front of the house, so I run around to our front window and tap on it until she comes over. I'm smiling and acting silly like we're playing a game, all the while my goal to keep her near me and away from the stairs. Now that I'm at the front of the house I see our neighbors lights are on, and I'm in a better position to run quickly across the street to use their phone while still being able to see her little face in the window. I instruct her through the window to stay there and watch Mommy while she runs across the street...which she actually does!!! God love her!
I sprint across the street and knock while looking back constantly to see that little face. My neighbor opens the door, I quickly explain the situation, and he goes back in for the phone while I sprint back across the street to touch base with her again through the window. Then back across the street for the phone. He sweetly offers me a jacket, but I'm warm with adrenaline and baby hormones :). Call Peter fast and try not to sound too frantic over the phone. I know he's already going to have horrible visions in his head the whole way home.
Back over to my confused little one. She heads toward the back of the house again, and I meet her there smiling. She runs toward the door grinning like it's a fun game of hide and seek. She engages in another futile attempt to unlock the door with her stubby little fingers, bless her little heart. Neighbor comes by to check on things, says Peter's just called him that he's on his way.
At that moment she heads toward the front again, so I run to meet her there. But she's continuing the full circle (you know what I mean if you know our downstairs) and goes back to the front to meet our neighbor, not her Mommy, which freaks her out a little, so she heads into the front living room again. But when I get back to the front window I can't see her. Uh-oh. I fear she's heading toward the foyer and the stairs, so I run to the front door where I will have visual of her. Thank you Jesus, she's there and not halfway up the stairs. I tap to get her to the door and entertain her by turning our old-fashioned doorbell. Now she's starting to cry and get scared. "Daddy's coming, baby. Coming to save us, don't worry."
I see lights coming up the street. Hallelujah!!
Next thing I know Peter's there with her, having come in the back door. She's clinging to him, poor confused little orphan. I'm in tears. Peter snaps then quickly apologizes, relating how scared he was. We all collapse on the couch for awhile and let the the stress bleed out. I think about how thankful I am that the stove wasn't on and a million other ways that this all could have been worse.
If nothing else this gave me something to blog about...oy-vey!
Posted by Shannon at November 29, 2007 08:16 PM
Comments
Oh Sweetie! you must have been so freaked out!
I remember the day that Kate ran out of the bathroom at the Maine Mall(slipped right out under the stall door) because she was afraid of the toilet flush. I was pants down.. and could not run immediatly after her. When I reached the bathroom hallway exit into the Maine mall (by the food court) I was screaming full volume "My child has been taken!" (way to keep my cool eh?) because she was nowhere in sight!! Dave later laughed until he cried when he heard this story relayed (I could have killed him) Everyone began to look around and finally from waaa-aaay across the food court some lady was yelling "I've got her" (I promptly collapsed on the floor in a pool of tears - and most likely adrenaline too) The "lady" was my MOM! ol "HAWK EYES" Katie had spotted her from the bathroom entrance sitting at a table about 3/4ths the way to the other side of the food court. (She was coming to meet us for coffee, and I had told her generally where we were sitting, before we exited to go "pee") I was totally rattled, embarassed, and MAD AS A HATTER at her for efficiently running so fast she was literally "gone" from my sight in that blink of an eye. I can feel your panic laced in your story... I LOVE YOU and you are a super great mom who kept her cool in a sticky situation! Praise God from whom all Blessing flow.. thanks to God that Peter got there when he did, and that God gave you the calmness not to lose your cool and get Natters more freaked out. Phew - thats one for the memory book.. some day we will both look back on those things and laugh at what we must of looked like (me running arund like Chicken Little, and you doing laps around the house, now arent you glad you don't live in a mansion, LOL ) GIGGLE!!!
rest in Him,
Jennie
Posted by: JennieO at November 29, 2007 10:34 PM
Hey - Sweet Pumpkin:):)
Oh that I were closer to give you a big squeeze of reassurance. Knowing you as I do - please don't give the enemy any room in your mind with doubts about what a TERRIFIC, LOVING mother you are to dear precious Nat. Of course you will say practice what you preach Mom - but both of us need to hold fast to the knowledge that our children are ultimately HIS and HE loves them so totally & completely - and will keep them safe. I am so VERY PROUD of your quick thinking and agility!!!!!! Won't it be fun some day when Nat herself is a new Mommy to tell her of the adventure and the game called "ring around the house" I love you and am already looking forward to our time together when BUn II arrives:):):) MOM
Posted by: MOM at December 1, 2007 02:50 PM
Oh dear friend! What a scary day! You were so smart and quick witted, though! I'm so proud of you! Oh, how I love you! Holy craziness! Can't wait to see you soon! Love you!
Posted by: Amy at December 2, 2007 10:39 AM