Monday, September 15, 2008

Crisis Averted

This afternoon, Evie and I were putting clothes away. When I say "Evie and I," I am exaggerating a bit. I mean to say, I was folding clothes a little faster than she was unfolding them. Laundry takes a long time when you have a one-year-old assistant.

Anyway, I left her in my bedroom for a second to hang a few dresses in her closet. Coming back down the hall, I heard my door slam closed. When I tried to open it, I panicked. It was locked, from the inside. Evie was on the inside and I was on the outside. See the problem?

I freaked out a little more than was warranted. The first thing that ran through my mind was that the door to my bathroom was open. For a split second, I worried she would drown in the toilet. She doesn't really play in the toilet, so I calmed myself. Then I worried that I would never get the door open and the fire department would have to come and get her out. And I wasn't wearing a bra.

I decided to take control of the situation. I've never picked a lock before, but how hard can it be? I grabbed a metal skewer from a kitchen drawer and rammed it into the door handle. I jiggled it around. Nothing.

So I swallowed my pride and called my husband.

Chris: Hello?
Me: I have some bad news.
Evie: (From the other side of the door) Mommy?
Chris: What?
Me: Evie has locked herself in our bedroom, and I can't get the door unlocked.
Evie: (From the other side of the door) Mommy?
Chris: She keeps closing the doors all the time. We knew this was going to happen.
Me: (On the verge of tears) I ONLY LEFT FOR A SECOND! I JUST HAD TO HANG UP TWO DRESSES IN HER CLOSET! IT'S NOT LIKE I LEFT HER PLAYING BY HERSELF FOR HOURS!
Evie: (From the other side of the door) Mommy?
Chris: I'm not blaming you. Now, listen. Get the little blue screwdriver case from the bottom drawer in the kitchen desk.
Me: Okay.
Chris: You should do it now, while we're on the phone.
Me: Okay. I have them now.
Chris: Take the smallest flat-head screwdriver and put it in the lock.
Evie: (From the other side of the door) Mommy?
Me: Okay.
Chris: Now, just twist it. The lock should turn.
Me: Oh, thank God! It's open!

I love my cool-as-a-cucumber husband. And when the door opened, Evie was playing by the bed, completely unaware of my almost-meltdown.

Thanks, Chris.

7 comments:

Scarlet O'Kara said...

I am so glad that all turned out well...and now you know how to "pick" locked doors. This is a much needed skill for moms.

Jackie said...

I am laughing my head off...but only because this exact thing happened to us about a year ago. I so know the panicked feeling! Thank God for level-headed hubbies! :)

Anonymous said...

you are such a great story-teller! I laughed the whole time I was reading this. Although I am sure you were not thinking it was so funny. lol. I am glad your husband was calm and helped you get the door unlocked!

And I can relate the the one-year-old helper. Sweet Pea loves to take the dishes out of the dishwasher as I am loading. haha

Momisodes said...

Aww, that is great you worked together and he kept a level head :) I would have been freaking out!

HUB said...

Good story - well told. I was "on pins and needles". Chris must have received his calmness from his DAD - lol. Well, maybe there's someone in Korea, "calm as a cucumber" and very logical. I'm glad Evie is fine and didn't drown in the toilet. I cracked up with the bra comment.

Mozi Esme said...

That's what husbands are for!

One day I put Esme in her car seat, locked the door there, and then stuck the key into the driver door only to have it stick, unable to turn or take out. Panic - baby is inside and she's going to melt away! I called my husband and he pointed me towards some oil that I could squirt into the lock, which let the key come out. Never would have thought of that in my panicked state!

Shari Baby said...

haha i can't believe dad put he cracked up at the 'bra comment'. well i thought it was funny too but coming from him sounds pretty funny. i'm glad the situation came out alright. good story though!!