I was driving along a major highway from Illinois to Indiana and I glance in the back to find Gray MISSING! GONE from his car seat.
(Maybe for a split second I freak and think the rapture had come.) I yell for him and try not to swerve off the road. I know he is in the car.... somewhere. His head pops up from the way back. And he starts to climb over the seats again and I'm like NO! Just what I need- someone to report a rogue toddler romping around inside a moving vehicle.
I am nowhere near an exit to pull over so I have him sit tight until I can get him all buckled in again.
I am sure this happens to every Mom, I tell myself.
This kid keeps me on my toes and tires.
Today we're heading up to Brookfield Zoo for the special Party for the Planet & Kite Festival. A few weeks ago Thermos invited me to be their Mom Blogger for the event. What an honor!
They sent us a bunch of awesome Thermos goodies- something for the whole family (including Ivy!)- and who knew how stylish and hip and eco-friendly they are? Their new focus is the importance of keeping everyone hydrated including the devastating and staggering amount of people without clean drinking water. For more info check out Hydration For All and the worthy cause charity : water.
I'm looking forward to a much needed family day. And we'll be right at home at the zoo. I plan to take plenty of pictures. I'm always on the lookout for "babywearing" & nursing animal Moms and babies.
Gray has also been talking about this trip to the zoo all week. I'm so excited to share this special time with him, too. I really feel like I'm getting him more, finally. And I plan to really try to spend my day looking at things through his eyes.
He's got a great perspective from way down there. I hope I can keep up.
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Oh my goodness -- I would have had a little mini heart attack too!
ReplyDeleteHow terrifying!
ReplyDeleteHope you all have a blast today. Zoos are always so much fun!
I have a keepin' me on my toes kind of daughter..phew! Exhausting! Have so much fun at the zoo...is everyone going? Beautiful day for it!!
ReplyDeleteI would have had a heart attack, Steph, though I am quite sure that it's happened to more moms than you can imagine.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day! The weather is perfect.
My 4 year old always asks if she can un-buckle (um, no), but she's never tried it sneakily ;)
ReplyDeleteHave fun today! Wow, Thermos has some great products I didn't even know about!
Oh it's definitely happened to me. My 4 1/2 year old has done it. Not just once, but twice.
ReplyDeleteWe went to the zoo last week and there was a baby chimp, nursing and playing with mom -- I could have sat there for hours ... but I had my six children with me!!
ReplyDeleteUnbuckled kids give me mini heart attacks too--and why does it happen/get noticed when there is nowhere to pull over? MAM doesn't unbuckle herself, but I've spaced buckling her in more than once. Then she notices, and screams "I'm not buckled! Not buckled!" (because she shares my terror of not wearing a seatbelt). Last time it happened, we were on what I like to call, "the bridge of death", in the center of a billion lanes of traffic...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, hope everyone gets to the zoo in the appropriate restraint and a good, thirst-free time is had by all!! :)
Sounds like that boy keeps you on your toes. Have a great day at the zoo. It's a perfect weather day for it.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest has gotten out of his car seat before too! I was MAD!!! He knows better, it is terrifying. I'm sure it's something he won't ever try again!
ReplyDeleteWhen ds was rear-facing, we were driving in the nighttime back from a shopping trip in Boise. I reached back to rub his head, and couldn't find it. I moved my hand around, still nothing. I flew out of my seatbelt, turned around, and his head was hanging all the way fwd. being he had fallen asleep. I was so sick to my stomach. He is now 3 and sounds very much like your Gray!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous opportunity and a beautiful day to enjoy with family!
ReplyDeleteSo scary! But yay for the zoo!
ReplyDeleteOh, dear - I know once my son figures out the buckles in his carseat, this will be me! He's pretty good at snaps & stuff, so I don't ever let him even play with the buckles!!! :)
ReplyDeletePerfect day for the zoo. I can't wait to see pics and hear all about it. You will have a lot of interesting stories to tell Gray when he gets older.
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny how different each kid is... Jasper is already fiddling with the carseat buckles and Roo doesn't even try to undo herself, even though she could.
ReplyDeleteI will only say that the carseat thing had YET to happen to me. Never say never, right? HA!
ReplyDeleteLordy, they can certainly make your heart stop! Glad you didn't get in an accident when you saw him missing!
ReplyDeletewith kids around there never is a dull moment is there? :)
ReplyDeleteThat would have scared the living daylights out of me, but you know? I've known other women who have had that happen to them, so don't feel bad about it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the zoo!
Hasn't happened..yet! My Zane is still strapped into a car seat that he can't get out of. Once he can... he will, trust me.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a nice time with your little man.
Nell
My cousin's little girl did the same sort of thing. He looked in the mirror and she was standing up in her carseat dancing to whatever song was on the radio!
ReplyDeleteGood times, huh?
the carseat thing has happened to me MORE than once! one time i was riding with my mother-in-law and my daughter (2 1/2 at the time) was in the back in her seat. we turned into the grocery store parking lot and liberty (my daughter) screamed and we heard a loud "thump." she had gotten out of her carseat and fell onto the floor when we turned. SCARY!
ReplyDeletehope your day at the zoo is fantastic!
How was the zoo? Guess what? The laptop contest people just let me vote for the fourth time. If this keeps up, I'll be winning this laptop for you single handedly.
ReplyDeleteI think it does happen to every Mom.
ReplyDeleteI know both of my older kids, once they figured out how to work the car seat restraints, unbuckled themselves at some point as we drove down the freeway and decided to mosey around the minivan.
"DUDE! YOU CANNOT DO THAT!" I yell.
But yes, it's a heart-attack moment.
And you're simultaneously sure someone is looking in and judging your parenting skills.
Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI would have freaked out! How scary.
Oh how scary! I have a little guy who is quite the handful, but thankfully he hasn't figured out how to get out of his car seat yet...heaven help me when he does! :)
ReplyDeleteHave fun at the zoo. Sounds like a lovely day.
Oh my goodness!! I think I would have crashed the car if I saw my kiddo missing. Glad everyone is okay.
ReplyDeleteThe first time this happened to me, I had a sheriff following me because I didn't realize my license was suspended for an unpaid ticket and he was kind enough to follow me instead of having to call for a ride. Imagine my horror when I saw my 2yo daughter climbing out of her seat as I drove down the highway!
ReplyDeleteWhen my husband was a toddler he managed to get out of his carseat too. He also opened the sliding door as they were driving! Luckily he survived and so did his mom
ReplyDeleteI just realized you are in my area!
ReplyDeleteThermos is a wonderful company. I love their Foogo line for tots and my husband loves the Element 5 mugs for his coffee. :)
ReplyDeleteHow was the zoo?