Safety 1st
I’m sorry if you read this yesterday. I hit publish instead of save draft by accident.
My daughter is now 2 years old and it still gives me heart palpitations every time she climbs on the couch. I immediately worry that she’ll fall. Abby’s just so tiny and her balance still isn’t completely up to par and that’s my baby, darn it. Don’t hurt my baby.
I’ve been trying to let it go, however. Because now, I have greater worries. She’s been following in her brother’s footsteps again, right on top of tables.
I was on the phone with my mother a few days back when she not only scaled the living room table, but then began jumping on top of it. With phone in hand, I immediately sprang into action, swooping her off the slippery surface. “No, Abby! No, no, no!”, I scolded. Right in my mother’s ear. “Don’t do that again, you’ll get boo-boo’s!”
My mom has to love our phone conversations these days. Though it’s her fault for not understanding email.
No sooner did I put her down than Abby runs for the couch. I try to breathe and let it go, continuing our conversation. When I glance again, my daughter’s hopping from cushion to cushion on all four’s. Then bounces herself off with a splat to the floor. I screeched and lurched as fast as I could, but she still came away with her first fat lip. “Boo-boo’s, Abby! BOO-BOO’S!” Right in my mother’s ear.
If I could circle a moment in bold red marker it would be that, right there, that is why I should just invest in a toddler-sized bodysuit of bubble wrap.
I'm Crystal. A 30-something mom to 3 young kids living in the Midwest USA. When I'm not chasing my children, I'm a freelance writer and web designer. I like to tell stories from our days and share what we enjoy...
18 Responses
on August 04 2010
I totally hit publish on accident once when it was an embarrassingly rough draft. I was appalled!
And the couch jumping? Ohhh yessss… you just turn your back for a moment and there she is, back on the couch again doing exactly what she isn’t supposed to do. If there is a bubble wrap for tots, it would sell faster than the iPhone 4, I swear. That’s exactly what we need!
Justine’s latest post: This is so wrong
on August 4th, 2010
@Justine, Maybe I should get to work on that. I could become a millionaire selling bubble wrap bodysuits!
on August 04 2010
My daughter was ever the ultra cautious toddler so only now at 3 1/2 is she starting to really jump around and on and off everything and it takes some getting used to. Her favorite game at the moment is lining up all the cushions from the sofas on the floor and then launching herself at high speed from the sofa onto them. Over and over again. So yes, a protective bubble wrap suit would be just wonderful right now
on August 4th, 2010
@Aging Mommy, My oldest was never really into the jumping all over everything, either. It’s just my 2 youngest. My 4yo shows my 2yo what not to do and she follows in his footsteps.
on August 04 2010
Yes I remember those days…wait! I still have them even though my kids are older (15, 11, 6).
Just last weekend they were jumping off the top railing of the houseboat we rented, courtesy of Dad showing them the way. Grrr.
Cathy’s latest post: Drugs- Part 2- The Email
on August 5th, 2010
@Cathy, My husband can be a bad influence, too. In fact, I’m pretty sure my 4yo learned most of his “skills” from his dad and now he’s passing those on to his sister.
on August 04 2010
I can’t tell you how many times I have hit publish instead of save draft! Thank you for admitting that you have done it also!
It is so hard to watch our kids grow and take chances. A bubble wrap suit would be perfect for your daughter. I bet you could market that to all the other mothers.
on August 5th, 2010
@Mrs.Mayhem, I’m pretty sure I’d be a millionaire, because there can’t be much cost in production. What, some bubble wrap and duct tape?
on August 05 2010
Toddlers are the quickest things on the planet! I had twins and it nearly did my head in because you can’t be in two places in the room at once. Many boo-boos!
Catch the Kids’s latest post: A Difficult Study
on August 5th, 2010
@Catch the Kids, So, so true. While they’re not twins, my 2 youngest are the same way. One’s climbing here while the other’s climbing there. Who do I save first?
on August 05 2010
My daughter uses everything has a trampoline. She asks before she jumps, but before the words come out of my mouth, she in mid-jump, giggling and landing (at least so far) safely.
Rudri Patel’s latest post: I Am Staying Here Forever
on August 07 2010
I remember many conversations like that! my poor mom
thepsychobabble’s latest post: Where You At
on August 07 2010
Boy, do I remember those days! My son is 9 now and I still worry, but at least the days of climbing to the top of the recliner are over.
They do survive! But do we?
Jeanine
Jeanine’s latest post: Meditation Seminar on August 11th at 5pm EST
on August 07 2010
She’s just figure out how much fun it is to pop the bubbles. Trust me. She sounds too familiar to me… Invest in wine for yourself and band aids for her. It’ll all be fine in the long run. We can’t become strong women if we don’t fall down and learn to get back up.
Tracey – JustAnotherMommyBlog’s latest post: Tutus are slimming
on August 11th, 2010
@Tracey – JustAnotherMommyBlog, And it is SO MUCH FUN to pop the bubbles! Maybe I should just get a bodysuit of bubble wrap for me, for entertainment purposes.
on August 07 2010
This is exactly how conversations with my poor mom go. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve actually said anything that’s directed at her or if she minds having a conversation essentially with herself. But she keeps calling, so I guess she doesn’t mind. Maybe she likes hearing a slice of her grandchildren’s day, albeit a slice full of don’ts and watch outs and I told you not tos. =>
Stacia’s latest post: Haiku Friday
on August 10 2010
Aw. This is why they say talking to a parent on the phone is like talking to someone with tourette syndrome.
I’ve given up on the bubble wrap with my toddler. She’ll survive or she won’t, but me flapping around behind her hasn’t changed that equation at all.
Kelly’s latest post: Bella in love Giveaway!
on August 11th, 2010
@Kelly, I don’t watch the boys as closely. They climb and fall out of stuff all the time without problem and I don’t give it a second thought. My daughter just terrifies me, though.