Ever wondered how people manage to not only lock their keys inside their car but their children as well? I always wondered where people’s brains were whenever they’d lock their keys in the car – what kind of idiot would do that? Well, apparently I am that kind of idiot. Talk about judgments coming back on ourselves!
Yesterday, Elisabeth and I went out to run a couple of errands. I parked the car at the first store and proceeded to go about our usual routine to get out of the car: Open E’s door, then open the front passenger side door, push down the “lock” button, grab my purse and then close the front door and proceed to unbuckle my girlie and get her out of the car. While I was in the middle of getting Elisabeth out, my husband called and I answered the phone the same time the lady who owned the car next to us was putting her shopping bags away and getting ready to leave. One thing that drives me nuts is when I’m trying to back out of a parking spot and people are just standing next to their car, watching me and waiting for me to hit them. So, I thought, “Hey, I’ll go around on the other side and climb in next to E so we can chat with Daddy before heading into the store,” and SLAM. I instantly realized what I had just done.
“Oh my goodness, I just locked Elisabeth in the car!!” I exclaimed to my husband. “She’s in the car?!” “Uh, yeah. Along with my purse and the keys!” Sadly, he wasn’t anywhere close and couldn’t come to the rescue. That’s when the lady who was getting ready to leave suggested I call the cops before she sped away. “Honey, I don’t know what number to call besides 911!!” “Call information and get the number, then call me back, ok?” “Ok.”
My conversation with Verizon 411 was rather humorous and I might have laughed if it weren’t for the reason behind the call. I didn’t realize I was going to be talking to a human being, so that started things off rather strangely. When I asked for the police station the gentleman asked me, “Is this an emergency? Do you need to call 911?” “Uh, no, I just locked my daughter in the car with my purse and keys.” “Oh, well then I’ll connect you to the station right away!” Thankfully everybody was very helpful, not that they wouldn’t be. A 2-year old locked inside a car is worth a good deal of concern.
After I finished talking with the operator at the police station is when Elisabeth started getting hysterical. The waiting was the worst part. Trying to console her through the window was heart-wrenching. Seeing those big, beautiful blue eyes look up at me as if to say, “Just open the door and hold me, Mommy!!” was crushing. But, I had to remain strong for her sake because the hysterics could have been a lot worse if I had chosen to join!
About 20 seconds before hearing the sirens of a fire engine headed our way, Elisabeth unlocked the door. It was like she thought, "Well, if you're not going to rescue me I might as well do it myself!" because she reached for the lock and flipped it as if she knew exactly what she was doing. I grabbed her as quickly as I could and repeated over and over, “You are SO smart! What a brilliant little girl you are!” At least one of us had a brain!! The fire engine roared up right along with an officer in a patrol car just in time to meet my brilliant child. At one point Elisabeth said, “Liabeh smart! Open door!” Yes, you are and yes, you did!!
Yes, I am officially one of “those” Moms. Scatterbrained, tired and idiotic at times. I have joined the club most willingly and feel right at home. Thank God I've learned to laugh at myself because that's a required skill in this club!
