Sunday Morning with Hayden-- Safe Keeping

I hope everyone had a nice Easter last week.  Easter is my most favorite holiday.  I just love the colors and smells of spring.  Egg hunts, baskets, dinner, it's all good.  The weather was not the best, but it was alright and got better and warmer as the week went on.  With the nicer weather and the kids home on vacation, I am reminded of how difficult this summer is going to be with Hayden.   I say this because every year as Hayden gets older, he wants more freedom.  Like any child would.  He sees Liam leave the house on his own now to go out to play with friends.  Hayden wants to do this too.   He just doesn't understand all the problems that this brings up.  He is unreliable when it comes to looking both ways to cross the street for one.  Also, he is very trusting and would probably go with anyone who asked.   And then there is just knowing how to get back home.  I can't wait for the day he has mastered all these things.  But in Hayden's mind, he already has.  Difficult, might be an understatement.


The day Hayden started crawling was just the beginning. Once he started moving, he found ways through all our defenses. We put child locks on all the cupboards. He sat in front of the one that houses all the kids plastic dishes and patiently figured it out. We put gates on the stairs. Without multiple bungee cords strapping it to the banister, he could get around it.  Things got much more complicated as the first summer approached with Hayden as a  walker.  He quickly became very fast and oh so quiet.  He would go into stealth mode when he planned an escape.  Occasionally, wires would get crossed between whomever was home.  One would think that another was on Hayden patrol, and when he sensed our confusion, he sped into action.  He could not reach door handles yet, but the slider to the backyard was no obstacle. He could get out on to the deck and into the yard undetected way too often.  This was largely due to the dogs having pushed their way through the bottom of the screen on the slider.  Then, if the gate on the deck was open for the dogs to access the yard, forget about it.  


His favorite attraction in the backyard was any muddy hole he could find. As we had a new puppy that summer that liked to dig, holes were in no short supply.  One fine day I remember asking the children where Hayden was.  After everyone gave me the " he's not with me" response.  I called for him from the deck.  He did not answer me and I did not see him.  This sent me into panic mode.  I called the other kids together and started searching the house.  I went back out to the yard where I heard a small splashing sound.  I looked over the railing right down the side of the deck, and there he was.  Covered in mud and having the time of his life!

The first time I found him was right after breakfast and he was still in his pajamas.

After I found him and took some shots, I stripped him naked and took him up to the bath.  He was dressed and looking squeaky clean.  I released him to go downstairs with his sibs while I cleaned the ring out of the tub.  To my dismay, when I came back downstairs, he had slipped out again!!


When I tried to get him out of the mud, he made me chase him around the yard. 

How could you be mad at that face?  I was pretty mad at the other kids for letting him off the deck again though.

I decided to throw him in a tub on the deck instead of having to clean the bath tub again.  This actually became the  bath tub of choice for two summers. 

Let me give ya a kiss mama!

Since last summer Hayden has mastered  locks and those plastic child proof doorknob covers. Already this spring he has made it out on his own into the world.  He went to visit at a friends house one street over.  He had socks on, but no shoes and mittens but no coat.  Kyra was babysitting and fell asleep.  He saw his chance and took it.  He knew exactly where  he was going.  When I think of all that could have happened while he was on his mission, I could cry.  The good Lord was looking out for him.  Or maybe a guardian angel.  I don't know which. But what I do know is that keeping Hayden safe this summer is going to be a full time job.  Wish us luck!