On Friday Owen and I went out to the nature center in Elm Creek Park to pick up my picture and prize from the photo contest. We went in a stood around waiting for someone and finally rounded up a girl who "sort of " worked there. She wasn't all that helpful but found another girl (again, not so helpful) who told me to go and get my photo off the wall and bring it back so I could sign that I had taken it. I did as instructed and when I returned neither girl was there. I wasn't surprised. The desk person returned a minute later and helped me though. A nice lady that we had talked to on the way in while she was coming up the walk. So we got the picture and the prize and left.
As we were going to the car there was a car parked next to mine with a "weird" guy sitting in it. He watched up coming up the walk and I just felt a bit uneasy about him. This is not uncommon for me. I think lots of people are weird. I don't mind it too much when I don't have Owen but I try to keep aware of my surroundings and the weirdos when he's with me. So I unlocked the car and put the picture down, Owen in his seat and all the while watching the weirdo. Who was right next to my car. And to be safe I decided to lock the doors. I pushed the lock button the clicker and absentmindedly threw the keys on the front seat like I frequently do after I get in the back seat with Owen. Then they will be where I need them. I forget about the weirdo, the doors are locked after all, and buckle Owen in a get his water and a toy and make sure he's all comfy and situated and then shut the door. With the doors locked. AND THE KEYS AND Owen INSIDE!!! Which I realize when I pull the driver's door handle! Crap! (I say this!) Smile at Owen and run back to the nature center and tell the nice lady that I need her to call the police as I've just locked my keys and my son in the car! She promptly calls and then comes out with me. She gives me a hug and tells me she won't come close to the car because she doesn't want to scare him. So Owen and I play peek-a-boo while I try to be calm and wait for the police. As I'm waiting the weirdo comes out of the nature center with the first girl who "sort of " worked there. Just an oddly dressed teenager picking up his.... I don't know, sister, girlfriend, friend. Whatever! Why can't teenagers dress normal!?!? And they look at me like I'm the weirdo standing outside my car playing peek-a-boo with my son. And I want to scream "This is your fault you FREAK!" But I don't because it's not his fault. It's mine. I've locked my son in the car because I'm a little paranoid.
It seems to be taking the police a long time to get there and I contemplate breaking the window with a rock but also contemplate the consequences of this and while I'm doing my thinking and peeking the lady comes out to say the park police are on the way, 2 of them, from the beach area (not too far) because the city police are farther away. Did I mention the nature center is out in the boondocks!? And she also tells me they do lock out all the time. Which I find comforting because when Morgan locked O in the car I got there before the city police could get it unlocked and I was 15 miles alway! A minute later the park police pulls up, gets out, gets the tools out and says he'll have me fill out the paper after. Good thing, because I'm pretty sure Owen is starting to wonder what the heck my problem is. And he's thrown his water on the floor and is looking a little warm. It was 82˙ out that day. Luckily we were mostly in the shade. As the officer starts getting the door ready to insert the pole thing Owen starts to cry. But I keep playing peek and talking to him and about 30 seconds later the door is unlocked! And then the other officer pulls up. He says hi to Owen and gives him a McGruff baseball card and a whiffle ball! And I get Owen's water and give him some kisses and he is fine.
I have to sign my name stating they are not liable for damage to the car (there wasn't any and I was contemplating breaking the window anyway!) and he needs my id, which I'm sure he used to check and see that I wasn't a wanted felon (I'm not) and then we get on our way.
And after this whole ordeal I thought about all the what-if's of the situation. If the desk lady had been there in the first place I would have been out before the weirdo got there. How if the girls had been helpful I would have been out before the weirdo got there. How if teenagers dressed normal I wouldn't have thought he was a weirdo! If I had put the keys in my pocket. If the kid really was a weirdo and tried to hurt us. But the reality of it is that I was trying to be protective and safe. And I really just need to put my keys in my pocket! And Owen is okay!
I wrote about this incident in the journal I keep for him. And I'm sure when he grows up and reads about all this stuff he's going to think Morgan and I were nuts! But we're even now. We've both locked him in the car!
As we were going to the car there was a car parked next to mine with a "weird" guy sitting in it. He watched up coming up the walk and I just felt a bit uneasy about him. This is not uncommon for me. I think lots of people are weird. I don't mind it too much when I don't have Owen but I try to keep aware of my surroundings and the weirdos when he's with me. So I unlocked the car and put the picture down, Owen in his seat and all the while watching the weirdo. Who was right next to my car. And to be safe I decided to lock the doors. I pushed the lock button the clicker and absentmindedly threw the keys on the front seat like I frequently do after I get in the back seat with Owen. Then they will be where I need them. I forget about the weirdo, the doors are locked after all, and buckle Owen in a get his water and a toy and make sure he's all comfy and situated and then shut the door. With the doors locked. AND THE KEYS AND Owen INSIDE!!! Which I realize when I pull the driver's door handle! Crap! (I say this!) Smile at Owen and run back to the nature center and tell the nice lady that I need her to call the police as I've just locked my keys and my son in the car! She promptly calls and then comes out with me. She gives me a hug and tells me she won't come close to the car because she doesn't want to scare him. So Owen and I play peek-a-boo while I try to be calm and wait for the police. As I'm waiting the weirdo comes out of the nature center with the first girl who "sort of " worked there. Just an oddly dressed teenager picking up his.... I don't know, sister, girlfriend, friend. Whatever! Why can't teenagers dress normal!?!? And they look at me like I'm the weirdo standing outside my car playing peek-a-boo with my son. And I want to scream "This is your fault you FREAK!" But I don't because it's not his fault. It's mine. I've locked my son in the car because I'm a little paranoid.
It seems to be taking the police a long time to get there and I contemplate breaking the window with a rock but also contemplate the consequences of this and while I'm doing my thinking and peeking the lady comes out to say the park police are on the way, 2 of them, from the beach area (not too far) because the city police are farther away. Did I mention the nature center is out in the boondocks!? And she also tells me they do lock out all the time. Which I find comforting because when Morgan locked O in the car I got there before the city police could get it unlocked and I was 15 miles alway! A minute later the park police pulls up, gets out, gets the tools out and says he'll have me fill out the paper after. Good thing, because I'm pretty sure Owen is starting to wonder what the heck my problem is. And he's thrown his water on the floor and is looking a little warm. It was 82˙ out that day. Luckily we were mostly in the shade. As the officer starts getting the door ready to insert the pole thing Owen starts to cry. But I keep playing peek and talking to him and about 30 seconds later the door is unlocked! And then the other officer pulls up. He says hi to Owen and gives him a McGruff baseball card and a whiffle ball! And I get Owen's water and give him some kisses and he is fine.
I have to sign my name stating they are not liable for damage to the car (there wasn't any and I was contemplating breaking the window anyway!) and he needs my id, which I'm sure he used to check and see that I wasn't a wanted felon (I'm not) and then we get on our way.
And after this whole ordeal I thought about all the what-if's of the situation. If the desk lady had been there in the first place I would have been out before the weirdo got there. How if the girls had been helpful I would have been out before the weirdo got there. How if teenagers dressed normal I wouldn't have thought he was a weirdo! If I had put the keys in my pocket. If the kid really was a weirdo and tried to hurt us. But the reality of it is that I was trying to be protective and safe. And I really just need to put my keys in my pocket! And Owen is okay!
I wrote about this incident in the journal I keep for him. And I'm sure when he grows up and reads about all this stuff he's going to think Morgan and I were nuts! But we're even now. We've both locked him in the car!
5 comments:
How stressful! I'm glad everything worked out OK! :)
We have all done that! A few years ago I locked my son in the car but still had the trunk open so he was able to crawl through the pass through to get out. Crazy things us busy parents do!
((HUGS!!)) Glad Owen's alright. And don't stress too much about it. We all have our "stupid parent" moments...LOL!
Heather, I'm glad that the weirdo wasn't really a weirdo and both you and Owen are fine. I will never forget my grandfather telling me when I was little to make sure you always have your keys on you. I always did. Even with little ones in tow,I'd make sure to put the keys in my pocket or my sock or just twist them in my fingers. I have never locked my keys in the car although my dh has and with the kids in there. BTW... all my kids think I'm crazy when I always tell them to make sure they have their keys on them all the time.... Needless to say.. they have all locked their keys in their car and even my keys in my car when they "borrowed" it.
I'm glad your story has a happy ending. This is one of my worst nightmares. I always feel like I'm in such a hurry that I'm going to lock my keys in the car - or worse in the trunk.
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