I can’t leave my house without anxiety, thinking that something will happen causing me lose control of the situation, but I won’t go into detail (AGAIN!) about how I think that I can’t handle both my children.
After the field trip last week I was feeling rather confident that I can handle it.
Yesterday? Yesterday was a setback.
One of my closest and dearest friends has a little guy that is one month and one day older then Hudson. We live about an hour from each other and rarely have the chance to visit, what with children and life getting in the way, but, today she and her little man came to visit.
After a weekend of people over for Carter’s third birthday, I was more then a little shitty at hosting. I really hate company as it is. If you’re over at my house, don’t be surprised if I forget to offer you a drink or don’t have snacks to share. Hell, I may even leaving you standing at the door for a little, chatting your ear off before I remember to even invite you in.
I had nothing to offer her aside from water and grapes; needless to say we ended up going out for lunch.
[Told you. Am SHITTY.]
The following is an unpaid Public Service Announcement – so listen up!
We grabbed the strollers (mine’s not the coveted Joovy Ultralight Caboose) and walked over to the restuarant / café near my place. Hudson wasn’t strapped into the carseat: since we were just walking to a local cafè I opted to rest him in the seat and forgo the restraints. I have yet to buy a double (Hi Joovy, are you reading??), Carter opted to walk, which I should have known would be a bad idea but I was in a good mood (read: I didn’t want to deal with a meltdown): it was all of a kilometer walk (read 0.4mi you Americans) and I figured he’d do fine.
What I didn’t figure?
How close it was to nap.
Carter wanted to hitch a ride on the back of the stroller (which would have worked so much better with the Joovy Ultralight Caboose), it’s hard to explain how he was standing, but I’ll try with a beautiful graphic!
See? B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L.
Worked great for about two minutes, until Carter leaned backwards to get down and pulled the entire seat with him.
Ass over tea kettle.
BOTH kids.
Remember, baby not strapped in? Ya.
It was so fast, I really don’t know what happened; instincts set in and I went into autopilot. Kinda.
My mind was racing and I didn’t know what child to go for: I didn’t want to just push Carter aside to grab the baby, worried that he would feel neglected – but OMG! THE BABY! – thankfully my friend was there and we each scooped up a child. Calming and shushing ensued followed by examination which yielded no findings. THANK GOD! It took a while for the shaking to subside; I was practically beside myself with guilt.
Now, had I owned a Joovy Ultralight Caboose, none of this would have happened. With the wonderful sit-n-stand option for a toddler at the back. As well as being very light weight, it comes in fabulous colours (like Sunset!)
I can joke around and be silly about it now, partly because I feel like an ass and partly because my babies are alright.
Nobody was harmed in this stupid mommy moment.
Well accept my nerves and confidence.
(Maybe Joovy can give me my confidence back with a Joovy Ultralight Caboose in sunset?)
My poor babies. *sigh*
(Hi Joovy! I’d consider reviewing one of your Joovy Ultralight Caboose in sunset, you know – for my readers. Let me know. Kthxbai!)
Jupiter says:
That is absolutely something that would happen to me.
And thank you for the kilometer conversion
Jupiter’s last blog post..Jupiter’s favorite color is purple
August 27th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Shania says:
Take comfort that they will never remember it. Unfortunately, you’ll never forget it. Glad everyone’s ok!
Shania’s last blog post..The untimely demise of Katharine Hepburn
August 27th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Sam says:
I’ve had many a stupid mommy moment, and somehow my kids managed to survive. The oldest is 12- let’s keep our fingers crossed…
Sam’s last blog post..Indecent Exposure
August 27th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Karen says:
after I had a similar experience -that involved toddler making a break for it in the intersection – I bought a sit n stand – because my blood pressure was just not going anywhere good & I decided we did, in fact, occasionally, need to leave the house.
Karen’s last blog post..Other People Exist
August 27th, 2008 at 10:19 am
iMommy says:
Oh, don’t feel guilty. Well, not overly guilty. We’ve all had those moments! Just the other day I left my daughter for ONE SECOND while she was in the bathroom brushing her teeth and she managed to get a hold of a razor. She cut her lip. Lots of blood. She was fine, but do you realize how much lips bleed? A lot. A very lot.
And then there was the time when she was an infant that she rolled off of our bed. She was fine, thank God, but nothing has ever given me more of a scare. I never napped in that bed with her and WITHOUT pillows/rails again.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:11 am
ali says:
that’s why they come with such hard heads.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:40 am
RookieMom Whitney says:
My son (the older) rode in the basket of the stroller you drew and loved it. We called it his clubhouse. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bremser/2245003447/
RookieMom Whitney’s last blog post..Rise to the challenge
August 27th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Mrs. Schmitty says:
Oh how scary for you! Sweetie, we’ve all had moments like that. I remember one time carrying my oldest in his bouncy seat. I had it placed on my hip because I just HAD to carry other things with me. It slipped off my hip and he was hanging upside down inches from falling on his head. I caught him in the nick of time. I could tell you a hundred other stories. Don’t beat yourself up.
Oh, and Joovy, I think Sam would be the perfect reviewer for your product. So ship her out one, asap…sunset is my favorite color!
Mrs. Schmitty’s last blog post..And They Call This A Family Show
August 27th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
justmylife says:
Glad everyone is OK, including you. I have had that happen not once but twice, guess I didn’t learn my lesson.
I have been MIA everywhere, hopefully I am back and commenting again!
justmylife’s last blog post..Oh, you gotta wonder…..
August 27th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Miss Britt says:
Dear Stroller Company,
I am considering buying a stroller. A fleet of them actually. Like, 30 AT LEAST.
But I find that I cannot decide on which brand to choose until Sam GIVES ME HER MOST AWESOME OPINION.
Just.. um… FYI.
XO,
Mom who will buy lots of strollers.
For real.
Promise.
Miss Britt’s last blog post..12 Reasons I Should Pose Nude
August 27th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
SciFi Dad says:
Oh man… my heart was in stomach as I saw the picture because I knew what was coming next, and even though you were light hearted and humourous about it and deep down I knew everything was OK, I still felt uneasy reading this.
I’m glad everyone is OK.
We’ve got a Fisher-Price sit and stand style (that I have yet to assemble, ahem) which we liked a lot.
SciFi Dad’s last blog post..An Open Letter To All Mommies
August 27th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
anna says:
Aww. Glad everyone’s OK. We all do stuff like that sometimes.
anna’s last blog post..Chuck E. Cheese is the Proprietor of Chuck E. Cheese’s, a Restaurant and Gaming Establishment in Which a Kid Can Be a Kid
August 27th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Summer says:
Oh, I hate those mommy moments when things go wrong. I’m so glad no one was hurt, though once your heart slows down it might have taken a year off your life. We’ve all been there at least once. When my second was little I was trying to hold him, dig in the diaper bag, and get my then toddler to stop hanging on my leg like a monkey. What happened? DROPPED THE BABY. Seriously.
Luckily they have tough heads and big hearts. They’ll forget long before you will.
Summer’s last blog post..Do Not Mess With My Food
August 27th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Loralee says:
Any child who makes it through to adulthood is a miracle. Seriously. Kids come “THIS CLOSE” every damn day.
NO WONDER PEOPLE GET GREY HAIR!
Every single parent on the earth has at least a couple of stories like this.
I have more than my fair share. :S
I’m glad that everything was ok. I’m sure they were right as rain and your heart was still in your mouth. Ah, the joys of parenthood, right?
Loralee’s last blog post..Sidebar:I probably should have posted this on a Monday
August 28th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Brenda says:
oh hon…it happens to all of us at some point. When Kyle was about a month or two old, I put him in the car seat, unrestrained, and put the car seat on the kitchen table. I didn’t figure hubby would try to grab the car seat!! Yep…car seat fell, baby fell face first into the linolium kitchen floor. I freaked. Ryan freaked. Bob laughed once he realized all was ok. Scary stuff.
You are officially a mom of two now. ((Hugs))
Brenda’s last blog post..My Road trip!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:13 am
samantha says:
You guys!! THANK YOU! As bad as it is, hearing other people’s stories makes t all a little easier!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:24 am
The Mommy Project says:
When my first was about 6 mos old I had her sitting up on my big (high) bed with me. I didn’t know that her Grandma had been teaching her the “fun game” of “Hey! Let’s throw you onto your back”. All laughs and giggles until she decided to show me the game and just, spontaneously, THREW herself backwards…off the side of the bed…with a horrifying THUD onto the floor that I will never, ever, forget. I think I cried hysterically for about 2 days even though she was okay.
Yep…the love to scare the SH*T out of us, don’t they.
Glad the kids are okay. Hope you are!
p.s. I just wanted to also say that I *LERVE* that photo “Frozen In Time”!!!! Who took that? It’s brilliant!!!
The Mommy Project’s last blog post..Widney Wednesday – Canada Style, eh?
August 28th, 2008 at 11:13 am
The Mommy Project says:
{Oops…I see now that all the photos are just under the title “Frozen in Time”…it is the one with the bubble!}
The Mommy Project’s last blog post..Widney Wednesday – Canada Style, eh?
August 28th, 2008 at 11:24 am
jennydecki says:
Yikes.
I feel your pain. I think I’ve taken the girls (who are two and three) out by myself…um..once.
We don’t get out much.
jennydecki’s last blog post..Different Directions – No Map
August 28th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
samantha says:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you all!
I know it’s a fact of parenting that these things will happen, just doesn’t make it easier.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am