My four year old is exhausting me. She wants to be outside ALL THE TIME.

Sometimes us Moms have things to do inside. Like laundry or cook a meal. She will have none of that.

Puzzles? Please, way to boring. Quite time. No Way. There are bugs to catch and swings to swing on. Outside is the place for her.

Hubby had to put one of those chain locks, up high, on the back door to keep her in. She figured out she could put a chair in front of the door and open the lock. He is moving it up higher today.

She recently has figured out how to open the dead bolt on the front door. I almost cried when I figured out she could do this.

We went and bought another chain lock to put on the front door to keep her in. Unfortunately neither hubby or I have taken the time to put it up.

Until today when were shamed by our neighbors into actually securing our home.

This is how the week has gone.

Garrett (8) is the only one is school right now. I take him around 8:00am and usually all of the kids are still asleep. If Paige is still asleep I leave her in her bed and let one of the kids know I am leaving for a few minutes.

On Monday when I drove back onto our street my sweet neighbor was walking said four year old back across the street. It seems she had woken up in the 4 minutes I was actually gone, took the lock off the door, and went across the street to ask where her mother was? Why she didn't just go into one of her siblings bedrooms is beyond me. But she didn't.

I felt the big L emerging onto my forehead for "LOSER PARENT OF THE YEAR" when my neighbor and her husband asked who was suppose to be watching Paige while I was gone? (Did I mention I was only gone a few minutes?)

Anyway, this really scared me and needless to say I started waking her up and taking her with us for the morning drop off.

Now, I should probably tell you that since neither hubby or myself had gotten the new locks on the front door this week I was using the living room couch to block the door. Hey, it isn't pretty but it worked.

This morning when we got home I went to put the couch in front of the door and discovered one of the kids had slept their last night. Not wanting to wake him I just left the couch there figuring I was home and could watch her to make sure she did not escape.

Oh, what a fool I was.

A little while later while sitting in the family room talking with Tyler (14) I hear a sweet voice come into my home. "Julie, I have brought your daughter home again."

I turned white for before me was my little Paige, buck naked, leaves she had collected out front in her hand, smiling sweetly at her mama, while holding the hand of my understandably disturbed neighbor.

"You know, you really need to put a better lock on your door. Someone could have just driven up and taken her".

The L for loser is now across my entire body.

However, as of a few minutes ago we have a lock on the front door that even Fort Knox would be proud of.

I will be having the neighbors over later to inspect the fine craftsmanship. Just so they can be assured no naked four year olds will be showing up on their front porches any time soon.

Labels: kids