Lesson Learned

Yesterday I discovered an important truth.... toddlers are dangerous when they are holding their mother's keys and in the car.

It was a typical afternoon. I was loading Collin in the car to go pick up some friends to take them to the airport. He was screetching while I was putting him in his carseat, so I handed him my keys. 

Then I remembered I needed to take the stroller out of the back so they could fit their luggage. The SECOND I shut the back trunk, I hear an ominous {click}. He had pushed the lock button.

Noooooooooooooooooo!

I run to the side door and try it. Locked. All doors... locked. I peer in the window and see my purse, phone and spare set of keys sitting on the seat. Collin is looking at me like we had just started a fun game. "Push the other button, Collin! Push the other button!!!" Like a good little boy, he does. And the alarm is now going off. "Dang it child, not THAT one!"

I am praying, pounding on the window, pleading, and starting to hyperventilate. It's hot in there. It's been a hot, muggy day and he's already looking redder. But I'm sure he'll push the button, just give him time. But it's been 10 minutes.

Then the 10 year old neighbor boy suddenly appears next to me. "Is Collin locked in the car?" I sob YES and ask if his mom is home.

In no time, I've got his mom Celeste, dad Ernest (a firefighter), older brother Andrew, twin sister Jayla, and posse of friends surrounding my car. Celeste is telling me it's going to be fine. Ernest and Andrew jimmy the side door and slide a hanger down, trying to push the unlock button. But the pressure is bending the hanger, before it's pushing any buttons. Collin is starting to sweat and cry. Celeste is telling them to hurry, the baby needs to get out. 10 minutes later and no success.

They need something stronger but still skinny. A yarstick! They run to get one as my panic is getting out of hand. Down it goes and {click}. I pull my red, drenched baby out of the car and smother him with tears and kisses.

Words don't describe how grateful I was for my neighbors! They saved the day. What would I have done without them? Probably would have had to call the fire department. Embarrassment would have risen 100%.

And my friends even made it to the airport in time to catch their flight.

I think now I can laugh about this.... but also testify that a toddler is definitely dangerous while in possession of his mother's keys.