I am emotional and still shaken up by what I am about to share with you. I am also embarrassed to share this. However, if it will help someone else, I feel it is worth it. On my way to work this morning, I got caught up in my thoughts. What I need to do today. The stuff that has been stressing me out in general. Just lost in my thoughts while I was driving. I got to work, parked, exited the car, and walked toward the front door, still lost in my thoughts. When I got to the front door I reached out to grasp the handle and sort of froze, overcome by a feeling that I was forgetting something. It jolted me out of my thought stupor, for lack of a better word, and I slowly realized--to my absolute horror--that my baby was still in his car seat. His car seat was still in the back of my car. I forgot my baby. I forgot to take my baby to the babysitter and I left him in the back of my car when I got to work. My routine was different today, for the past several weeks my oldest son has been with me in the mornings. He would drive in, wed drop him off at school then Id hop in the drivers seat and take my baby to the babysitter, then drive to work. My oldest son wasnt with me today, so it was just me and my baby. My baby also feel asleep, so he was completely silent, no auditory reminders. And I was so focused on my day, my thoughts, WHATEVER... These are not excuses. These do not pardon what happened. But it did happen. My baby was only in the car for 1-2 minutes, max. But....what if? What if I hadnt paused at the door, remembered? What if I had gotten to my desk and gone about my day as normal? What if I had gone back out to my car 6 hours later this afternoon, only to find the worst nightmare I can imagine? I really truly cant even think about it. I cant shake this horrible feeling--this GUILT--that today, I almost harmed my baby in the worst way. I am a good mother. I would do ANYTHING for any of my kids and my greatest joy is caring for them. I try very hard to make sure Im doing all of the right things. I read the latest research, child-proof my home, take special care to make sure all of my kids are safe, clean, nurtured, loved, happy, healthy. But still...I forgot my baby. I. Did. That. I remember seeing this boys invention and thinking it was a good idea. ezbabysaver/ I also remember thinking, How can you forget your baby? Who does that??? It happened to me, today. I forgot my baby. You had better believe that the moment I get done with work, I will be going straight to the store to purchase the supplies Ill need to make this, or something similar. Something, *SOMETHING*, that Ill put on the handle, door, somewhere obvious, Every. Single. Time. I get into the car with my baby from this day forward to make SURE this never, ever happens again. And, I will probably hug him tighter and longer than ever tonight. I will probably cry a lot while I do. I will be saying prayers of Thank you, thank you angels...for the nudge when I got to the entrance this morning...that feeling...the reminder that something wasnt right, that I needed to stop and remember my baby in the car. I also feel new understanding, empathy, and sorrow for any parent who has done the same thing but realized too late. I am sorry. So very sorry. If this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. I never want this to happen to anyone again. Ever. If you have a baby or small children, or if you ever transport babies/small children, Go. Right. Now. and do *SOMETHING* to make sure you never forget. Some good ideas Ive heard in addition to the E-Z Baby Saver: ~Leave one of your shoes in the back seat with your baby. ~Leave your purse, phone, wallet, etc. (things you would absolutely not forget, or if you did, would realize in moments) ~Leave a stuffed toy in the car seat when it is empty. As you put baby in the car seat, throw the stuffed animal into the front seat or put it on your dash. A great visual reminder. And, if someone else is transporting you baby/child for you, give them the tool or method you choose to use. Help them keep your baby/child safe!
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 18:52:58 +0000
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