Having no editorial board for this blog, I often read my posts to Logan before I put them out there permanently. He will tell me if they are "good" or "bad". Of course he enjoys the ones that are about him the most. Several months a go, I wrote a post about when I accidentally did not lock Ben's walker in place and he fell and hurt his face badly. Logan's response was, "Mom, that is bad. Why would you want to tell anyone about that?"
Well here's another bad one. But it is funny too and speaks to Ben's independence, curiosity and abilities. And it serves as a warning to other parents who may underestimate their child's cleverness.
Two weeks ago we spent the week in NY with family. We stayed at my Dad's house and slept upstairs. Last year, I wrote about how Ben climbed on top of two bins to get out of his room there. So this year, I reminded my Dad a few days before our visit that we had to come up with something to keep Ben in his room so that he did not fall down the stairs.
On the second night we were there, and really the first night Ben was alone (I slept in the same room with him the first night), I woke at 4:30am to a noise, like a bump. I got up, could not see too well, but heard Ben. He was sitting at the bottom of the stairs, unscathed.
After my heart stopped pounding a few days later, I let Ben show me how he got down the stairs - slowly going down on his bottom, one step at a time. Now that I know Houdini's little secret, perhaps we will be prepared for next time.
I am doubtful though...Houdini usually finds another escape act to wow the crowds.
Well here's another bad one. But it is funny too and speaks to Ben's independence, curiosity and abilities. And it serves as a warning to other parents who may underestimate their child's cleverness.
Two weeks ago we spent the week in NY with family. We stayed at my Dad's house and slept upstairs. Last year, I wrote about how Ben climbed on top of two bins to get out of his room there. So this year, I reminded my Dad a few days before our visit that we had to come up with something to keep Ben in his room so that he did not fall down the stairs.
This is what he came up with: tightly closed door, plastic fence and two heavy bins. Seemed like a good plan for a grandfather with a lot of experience under his belt.
On the second night we were there, and really the first night Ben was alone (I slept in the same room with him the first night), I woke at 4:30am to a noise, like a bump. I got up, could not see too well, but heard Ben. He was sitting at the bottom of the stairs, unscathed.
He crawled to the kitchen. I gave him a drink and took him back to bed. He went right back to sleep.
I was awake the rest of the night, heart still pounding from finding him down the stairs. I imagined every noise I heard or did not hear was Ben trying to get out of his room.
After I told my Dad, he fortified his defenses with more bins, and I slept with my door open so I could hear Ben. He still was able to get through the barrier, very quietly and without even moving it very much. I became a light sleeper the rest of the week.
I am doubtful though...Houdini usually finds another escape act to wow the crowds.
I tell you! That Ben is a smart cookie...independent and imaginative, like his Mum! Thanks for sharing this sweet (yet scary) story.
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