Worst Mother Award

I am the WORST MOTHER. It is official. I am expecting the "Worst Mother Committee" to grace my doorstep at any moment. The reason- you ask. I locked my 2 year old in the car (88 degree car- mind you) today. As usual I was trying to do too many things at once and did not realize I had accidentally locked my car door with my keys, phone, purse and CHILD all safely inside the car with no hope for escape. My first instinct, coax her out of her car seat and get her to get my keys. Yeah- right. Have you ever tried to get a child to climb out of their car seat when you prompt them? You know perfectly well she was thinking "now she has always told me not to get out of my seat.. Is this a test? Is she really just tricking me?" She immediately said "NO" quite sternly in fact. I however went.. "good for you sweetheart and yelled NOOOOO" simultaneously. She just looked at me with her angelic face and I knew we were in trouble. Thankfully after much coaxing of my neighbor (home alone, not supposed to open the door for anyone) I was able to call Adam and alert him of the potential catastrophe. After making the phone call I noticed a large group forming around my car to figure out how to get the kid out. The obvious were thrown out 1. can't she get herself out of the car seat 2. let’s break a window and my favorite 3. can't you just go to your house and get the other set? Sure, but first we have to figure out how to get my keys that are locked INSIDE the car out and then I can go and get the other set-- PEOPLE.PEOPLE.PEOPLE. What am I working with amateurs here (t it has been about 4 hours so the fear has worn off and I can now laugh at the situation). I know I should not be rude to those trying to help, but it reminds me of the BNL song about the guy that is in a car accident and as he is watching the situation unfold before his eyes he hears "some idiot asked if someone’s inside". So- after much discussion (mind you a large contingent only spoke broken English), we settled on coaxing the little one out of the car and waiting for her dad to come to the rescue. However, before he could arrive, one of the geniuses that lives in my complex (and this is sincere, not sarcastic) somehow fashioned a piece of wire to act as a device to unlock the car. Seriously. We got her out just as her dad pulled up. I think I have a modern day MacGyver living in my complex. I started bawling.. there was hugging and kissing and the best part... Lulu was completely oblivious to the extreme danger her mother had placed her in. As I was crying she just kept saying "it's okay mommy, its okay."

So- I hope everyone learned a lesson, 1. make sure you are paying attention to what you are doing 2. keep your keys in your hands at all times 3. (although I would advise against, but the consensus seemed to support the idea) figure out how to fashion a box to place on the outside of your car with a spare key inside or call Jerry Coyle (an old neighbor) and he can give you specific instructions on where to strategically place the box 4. get to know your neighbors.. they could be life savers and finally 5. at the end of the day.. you do your best and hope you haven't completely screwed them up.