One of the most common mistakes I have made as a mother is to assume I am smarter than my children. Yes, I know that intellectually I am much smarter. However, my creative intelligence and my persistence are often lagging behind when compared with that of the minds of my toddlers. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm worn out. Maybe it's my children joining forces against me. It might be that my theories on child rearing are just that: theories yet to be proven. Or, it could be that my children have been abducted by alien life forms and given brains which are developing at such an advanced level that there's no possible way my simple human mind can keep up.
I'm going with the latter. That concept would make the most sense.
How else am I to explain the fact that every single childproofing item that I was told I needed and installed in my home has been bypassed by my oldest child not yet of the whole hand age range and then taught to bypass to my youngest child still in diapers?
I've spent numerous dollars on products made to keep kids safe and out of areas in which they don't need to be. But, the only true deterrent to keeping them out of harm's way has been to rearrange my entire household so that pantries and under sinks are bare. Knives are on a shelf so high that I need a step ladder to reach. And, alarms are put on doors to notify of escapees.
I've learned an important lesson: never underestimate the determination, perseverance, and intelligence of a child intent on getting where you do not want him or her. They only rationale they'll give you in return is, "I did it myself!"
I'm going with the latter. That concept would make the most sense.
How else am I to explain the fact that every single childproofing item that I was told I needed and installed in my home has been bypassed by my oldest child not yet of the whole hand age range and then taught to bypass to my youngest child still in diapers?
I've spent numerous dollars on products made to keep kids safe and out of areas in which they don't need to be. But, the only true deterrent to keeping them out of harm's way has been to rearrange my entire household so that pantries and under sinks are bare. Knives are on a shelf so high that I need a step ladder to reach. And, alarms are put on doors to notify of escapees.
I've learned an important lesson: never underestimate the determination, perseverance, and intelligence of a child intent on getting where you do not want him or her. They only rationale they'll give you in return is, "I did it myself!"
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| Attempts to childproof pantry door included changing door knob multiple times and children could still figure out how to bypass keyed lock |
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