big mistake: revisited

This post will provide evidence to all those who just nod their heads in disbelief and smile when I claim that my kids are completely normal. My kids-all of them-are great, especially in public. When we all walk through the door at home however, it's a different story. The greatness doesn't end, it's just that the normal-ness comes seeping out of them.

Case in point: Tyler.


I've recently posted about the insanity that was spreading like wild fire when he would not sleep for days on end. Y'all were a fountain of knowledge. Thank you for all of your insight. It really made a difference.

All was well on that front for a while. Notice I said was. Friday morning Tyler was up and running around with the girls before mom and dad got up. I didn't think anything of it because if the girls get the zipper started for him (which they love to do), he can finish off the job and climb right out.


At bedtime that night I put him in bed and tucked the zipper in the little pocket.



Five minutes later he was at the top of the stairs.

I panicked.

I headed for the closest corner, assumed the fetal position, and began rocking.

Luckily Steve was here to put him back in bed. For some reason he didn't believe me when I said, "We're in trouble. I tucked that zipper down as far as it would go. He's figured out how to fish it out. This. is. not. good." I guess he figured that I can't remember one thing to the next (which is usually the case), but this I knew for sure. When I zip my little boy in at night I make a point to be very conscious. Every t is crossed and i is dotted.



I'm not cutting any corners there. My sleep is too precious.

Steve put him in bed, gave him some stern words, and tucked the zipper into place. Again.


Two minutes later he's at the top of the stairs.

He gets faster with practice.

This time we both go up and put him in bed. He gets an even more stern talk from Steve, and I realize that if we turn the crib around, the opening would face the wall. There would be no where for him to go even if he opened the zipper.


Steve agrees, turns the crib, and once again I am feeling victorious. There's nothing like outsmarting a two and half year old.

Saturday morning who's up running around with the girls before mom and dad get up?

Tyler.


Oh my word, it's Tyler.


Heaven help us. It's like we have a little Houdini on our hands.

At nap time I had another brilliant idea (after I vowed to weld a steel cage to the top of the crib and create a dead bolting hinged door on one side). A safety pin. We loop the safety pin on the zipper, zip it shut, and pin it to the little fabric pocket that we were tucking it into.


I once again have gone to battle and come out victor.

That is until he figures out how to open a safety pin.

I hope this is no indication of how the teen years are going to go down. I don't think I'll be able to come up with so many solutions to one issue...by then I'd probably just revisit the leather straps idea to keep him out of whatever trouble he may find himself in. By then they'll have homeschooling streams so I won't have to let him out of his room.