Locked Up #Toddlerness

Anyone who has ever been around young children knows the boundless energy they seem to possess. Did this kid chug some coffee and a RedBull before I got out of bed or what?? As a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) of two babies under two, I am constantly running from one mess to another all day while listening to crying, whining, giggling, baby-chatter, or worse, silence. Since we also have seven, yes you read right, seven, animals in our house, I feel compelled to vacuum every day and dust as much as possible so we don't drown in pet hair and dust. Most of the time I try to do my cleaning in the morning because everyone seems to have the most pep and happiness after breakfast before lunch. Well last Thursday, all of that was put to a screeching halt when my 18 month old daughter locked herself in her room...

I was actually in there with her beforehand, putting away laundry and feeling out how a nap would go down since a certain toddler was a little extra cranky that morning. She wasn't having any of it so I left her in her room and started down the hall when I heard her bedroom door click. Crap I thought, I left the pool noodle off. I went back to put it on so she couldn't smash her fingers but the door knob wouldn't turn. "No! Addison? Are you in there?" I quick checked her bathroom but it was empty. "Baby? Open the door please." The doorknob jiggled and she screamed. "Crap crap CRAP! I'm gonna get you out. Don't worry." I darted down the hall for the baby monitor thankful she was in her room and I could at least see her on the camera. Plus I know it's the safest place she could be stuck. 100% baby-proof.

Seeing that she was at the door playing with the lock, I ran back encouraging her to twist it the other way. Here's news folks, she can only turn it right. Her little hands haven't perfected the left-turn yet. "I'll be right back ok? Mommy has to go into the garage real fast for a tool. I'll be right back," I assured her. I took two steps from the door and heard the most gut-wrenching cry. My baby was locked up and I was running away from her. I know it breaking her heart in the moment. "I'm coming back Addison. I have to get you out." I bolted through her cries.

In the garage, my husband might have a system but I don't know what the heck it is. To me, it looks like mess mess mess and piles of tools. I almost tripped over the extra stuff in there because we've just moved into our new home a few months ago and haven't figured where everything goes so parts of the garage have become a gathering place for these random items. Anyway, I ran up to his massive red toolbox and began searching for a screwdriver small enough to fit into the tiny hole that was also a flathead because we have the turn locks. No luck. Hearing Addison crying out for me, I grabbed his power drill and bolted.

"I'm here honey, don't worry. Back up Addi. Mommy is coming in. Go get your lovey and paci off the bed." As she scrambled off I began to remove the screws on the knob and then took the outside handle off. I tried turning the lock part to unlock it but it wouldn't move. So I started pushing it through the center of the handle. All this time Addison was crying and freaking out. From her point of view the handle was shaking and moving on its own and Mommy wasn't by her side. "I'm trying to get you out baby. It's ok. Mommy is right here." I slammed the bottom of the drill into the handle hoping it would pop it out. Nope. And I terrified Addison. By this time, it had been 15 minutes and obviously I couldn't keep her entertained and calm and break in. So I called her Daddy. "Hi, don't panic because we are trying not to panic though we are panicking a little...Addi is locked in her room by herself...No, I'm not in there...Yes I tried to get her out!...Don't worry, I'll keep her calm. Just come help...Love you too, bye."

"Addison, Daddy is coming home! And look! Here's your kitty!" Mad Max, our youngest cat who is the same age as Addi, comes rounding the corner all chill and curious. I told her to stick her hand under the door and the second she did, Max did as I assumed and pounced. She giggled and I know felt better immediately. I laid on my back and looked under the door as she played with Max, holding her lovey with her paci in her mouth. Any time she started to get fussy, I reminded her Daddy was coming and to play with Max or hold my hand.

About another 20 minutes later Daddy bust in the front door and took two large steps to Addison's room where I was still laying on the floor. "Dada!" Addi yelled. "Yes, it's Daddy. Back up honey," he instructed. One large bang and a little twist and the doorknob shot through the hole and the door swung free. He checked her all over and then helped me up off the floor. Did I mention that I had Loralei in the Moby the whole time?? That's right, I was baby-wearing while running, squatting, bending over and laying on the floor. Loralei slept through it all.

After all that we didn't have the heart to make dinner so frozen pizza it was. And vacuuming waited til the next day.