Thursday, April 22, 2010

The One Where Isabella Escapes

Recently Isabella learned to open all of the closed doors in our house. Just to be clear, we don't have any secret rooms just closed up...I'm talking about bathrooms full of my makeup {pretty sure I've cried when that stash was found...}, doors at nap time, door to Madelyn's nap room.

One day after a call to Leo's work letting him know that we would be buying those door protectors to keep these things from happening, we stupidly grinned at ourselves thinking that we had the bases covered. There would be no way that our little girl could figure these things out--heck, even I couldn't figure them out at first.

Just to be clear on that last sentence, they confused me. They're tricky--for real...

Fast forward a few weeks--yes, I said a few weeks, as in less than a month--to today. Today which was Day 2 of potty training {still trucking--no thrown potty chairs today--that alone is progress in my book!} and it started out stressful. She was throwing tantrums. Hitting--me, Madelyn, anything she could get her sticky toddler hands on. I may or may not have raised my voice and said ENOUGH. I have had ENOUGH.

That started a whole new round of tears...so I told her it was quiet time--for both of us. Shoot, if anything, Madelyn and I desperately needed quiet time. I placed her in her room--and closed the door with her door handle protected so she could not escape.

I truly think that the toddler Gods were against me today and taunting me...Oh, you think you can potty train her and expect her to not figure out a childproof door handle?! Haha, Chelle! Watch this!

And just like that, a few twists and rattles of the door handle, she was out. Free. Telling me hi and giving me hugs...she had the childproof protector in her hands--and tossed it to me.

Here, Mommy! Look!

*Sigh*

I am now off to find an even better childproof door handle thingy...I'm telling you--she is a genius. She can figure out anything...and I'm pretty sure right about now I should be getting afraid for what will come in the future.

31 comments:

Pink Haired Momma said...

Maybe attach a small hook and eye lock up high o nthe outside of the door. kind of a lock in her system. My mom said this is what the yhad to do for me when i was little because i was a master door opener! Good luck! Hugs and smooches!

casey aubut said...

haha!! That is so funny! (Im sure it wasn't at the time- but ya know!) Good luck with the potty training- ayla loves her potty- but still wont use it! Ugh!
Thanks for the sweet comments about Ayla by the way! :)

Laura said...

ok, lets look at the...maybe she will be a magician specializing in great escapes!

No?

Ok, I tried.....good luck!

casey aubut said...

OMG! YOU are the Kind of person we need more of!! You make my day with your comments- Im telling you! You rock!! :)

Mrs. Micek said...

Oh my, you poor mommy!!! I just laughed so hard when she tossed it to you but at the same time I feel so bad for you too!!
Kids are way too smart sometimes!!

Tylaine said...

lol oh yes those little girls are tricky! Keep up on the potty training....it'll come! Like the one commenter said we also had to attach those high locks when E-man started getting into everything :)

Shell said...

My littlest one can unlock doors and break off those childproof handles.

To keep him in his room at night, we actually have to put up TWO baby gates- one ontop of the other, like its own little door. Because of course he can climb over just one.

What are these babies doing to us?

Megan said...

Ha ha ha! My oldest daughter did this too. We put her in her room, heard her fumbling around, and then foolishly thought she'd finally fallen asleep when it got quiet.

Nope. She walked downstairs a few minutes later with the doorknob cover in her hands, saying sadly "I broke it."

Let me tell you, it's only just beginning! But I'll commiserate with you any time, so at least there's that. :-)

Misty said...

wow, a smart little cookie she is.
you got your hands full!
-Misty

Anonymous said...

hehehe I am laughing so hard right now.. why? Because Sammy did the same thing.. but only after day 2!! I bough new ones.. the ones that just have holes to put your fingers and not the rubber pad. Then never take them off. why? Because each time you take them off they are easier and easier to take off each time. thats my word of advice. Sammy now knows that he can take them off as much as he would like but he knows that means off limits and doesnt want a time out so he leaves them be. I hope that was helpful advice :-)

Marketing Gurl said...

I love this...no more privacy...not that you didn't loose that all in labor and delivery and lactation but the door thing is just another reminder...but this is a totally random thing I was thinking --so I see myself as 99.9% mom and I forget that I was once cool...but...I was reading your profile and seeing how you are into indie rock and just feeling like I know this totally cool mom...it is funny how our identities change so much. I feel like it is SO much better though. I laugh so much more now and love the small things. Love, MG

Kmama said...

LOL!! She's a smart one!! When Buster was about a year old, he figured out the gate at daycare, which was so difficult (not tricky, just HARD) that some of the parents couldn't even get it to work. They are conspiring to take over the world. LOL

Unknown said...

Test for new comment form...this is only a test.

Jewls said...

Sounds...exhausting...!

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, this makes me laugh a little. I so remember those days. Good luck! :)

Danielle (Life with the Hewitt Family) said...

She is always keeping you on your toes isn't she? What kind of childprood thing was it? I think you need to show us a pic! We have the kind that fits completely around the door handle and you have to squeeze each side and then turn...it works great. So great that most of the people we have over can't open the door to leave! LOL!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Isabelle was so tall she figured doors out before she was two. We had those child safety things on for a while...then she took them off.

Know what I did? At least for her room? I turned the door knob around so now I can lock the door from the outside. I know it sounds mean and terrible, but I don't want her up and walking around in the middle of the night and falling or getting hurt.

And, I did it myself, so it's not too hard.

Adrienne said...

I think child proof really means adult proof ...lol kids can figure out anything !

KLZ said...

It's the tossing it to you bit that kills me.

And it just goes to show what determination and not caring if you break things can get you..

Rebecca D said...

We had similar problem with our older daughter... not only would she leave her room at inopportune times but several times she locked herself in her room, and would panic every time... so we eventually turned the doorknob around so she couldn't lock herself in anymore... Few few nights after that she left her room and removed the childproof cover on the stove and turned on the gas and went back to bed... Yes, our 3 year old tired to kill us... Luckily my husband woke up and smelled the gas... After that we may or may not have started using that little knob to lock her in at night... I'm just saying... not that I'm suggesting it to you...

amanda said...

it really is sad isn't it that they are smarter than us already :(

Sassy Salsa girl said...

That'd be my 2 year old. He figured out our handle protectors and got his door open! I was shocked and didn't put it back on because I thought, whats the point. A few weeks later I decided to give it another try. Surprisingly he has not figured it out again, yet.

Shannon said...

Oh gosh...GG has already figured out how to take off the plug covers. Clearly some of those child-proof products are just like throwing money down the drain!

Nikki said...

What a little smarty pants!!! It's funny how kids (toddlers specifically) are completely enthralled with opening and closing doors. Every time my nephew comes to our house thats all he does is goes around and opens and closes the doors!!
Glad you liked the white trash wedding story!!! I'd hoped it made a couple people laugh!

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Heather said...

I always wonder how the heck kids can figure those things out! They really are tricky. I was once at my brothers house watching my nephew. They had one on the pantry. I really struggled to get the dang thing open, and I was STARVING . Her 5 yr old had to show me. Awesome.

Looks like you have a smart one on your hands!

Aidan Donnelley Rowley @ Ivy League Insecurities said...

Those little ones are tricky creatures, huh? Thrilled to have found my way here from Theta Mom!

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

She's got some skills, doesn't she? Even my mom could never figure out how to open the door with the protector on when she would come to visit. I hope you find something else that works better.

And good luck with the potty training!

Unknown said...

Well, maybe this will all come in handy and be a distant memory when she's your little millionaire?? LOL. Oh my goodness, the things these little ones can get into. I hope your new handles slowed her down a bit!

Messy Mommy said...

Seriously??????????????? I can't even figure out those safety door handle things! I was out a friend's house once and I was so embarrassed when I couldn't figure out how to open the back door!

Cranky Cat Studio said...

My son has opened the child gate, opened the deadbolt on the laundry door, gotten into the garage, and crawled underthe slightly ajar garage door only to know on the front door to get back in. He has also popped the screen out of the window and crawled out so he could go visit the neighbor's dog.

I feel your pain! There is not a child gate he can't get through if he wants to!

I agree with Pink Haired Momma! We had to put the simple hook and eye locks up high on our doors. Just make sure they are high enough she can't pull one of her chairs (or inchworms, or laundry baskets, etc) over and be able to reach it!

I have also woken up to Ranch dressing being poured on my arm and had hot dogs brought to me at 3am, but I am reluctant to mar my fridge by adding a lock to it.....

Good luck Chelle!