On Saturday, I got distracted and as a result dts very nearly could have been killed :-(

[waterfalls]

Dts (2.4 yrs) and ds (5yrs) were playing in the garden, while I was putting the shopping away (the back door in kitchen leads directly to the garden)
We have only lived here 5 months and the garden is'nt brilliantly secure, so untill we get proper 6ft panel fencing and a gate we have rope to hold the gate shut, it is very tight, even I struggle to open it, but I never go further than the kitchen and always watch them. Anyway, I must have got distracted while putting the shopping away, and noticed it had gone quiet, I looked up and saw the gatw was wide open and kids were gone, I ran out and instinctively ran around the corner towards the main road, to find dts standing on the other side of the main rd, ds this side of the road (he was laughing)and a pile up of cars on the road, assuming an emergency stop was required as the second car was touching the first cars bumper.
ds wont say, but he must of opened the gate some how, I just feel terrible for not watching them properly

OMG, wf

Please try not to feel terrible, nobody is on 100% all the time, thank god the kids were all ok - what about the people in the cars? Were they OK about it?

It happens, waterfalls - they're OK, which is the main thing. You can't watch them every single second of the day and it's so easily done. I would say making your garden secure is an absolute priority now though - and don't leave them out there until it is...I'm sure you wouldn't now anyway, you'll be a nervous wreck for days. Be prepared to keep doing "what ifs" over and over in your head for the foreseeable future. But they're OK, that's what matters. Poor you - I bet you're shaking like a leaf.

Sorry - just noticed this was on Saturday. I hope you've stopped shaking by now

I did'nt speak to any of the drivers, I just grabbed them on took them home, but no abuse was hurled at me (thank god) but it looked like the first car was waiting for them to be found and stayed in his car so no other traffic could get through (so lucky it was someone as thoughtful) I know I should have said thanks, but I was panicking and just wanted to get them home.

how scary for you WF - obviously you'll bump security of the garden right up your priority list now! These things do happen - we were in a roadside restaurant in Spain a few years ago and ds1, aged 2 at the time bolted off and right into the road - I was literally screaming and afterwards felt like the mother from hell. You'll be fine - just see it as a stark lesson and now you know you'll never let it happen again.

Just be thankful they are both OK.

Yes, we are gnig on holiday next month, so the new fencing will be done as soon as we get back, in the meantime (sp) if, and its a big if, I let them in the garden, it will only be when I am sat in front of the gate, also we have now got a bike chain for now to keep the gate shut.

god!!!
i had a similer experience once when ds1 ran out of parents drive, along pavemnet and back inthe other end of the drive, i was fine and so was ds1 but my dad almost floored me for nearly killing HIS grandson..i know he was just shocked and reacted accordingly. thank god he wasnt around yeaterday when ds2 left the house we were all at, went up the road, across main road and rang grandmas door to ask for swimming shorts for the paddling pool. he wasnt in slight bit worried about what he had done either.

waterfalls - you poor thing! Glad they are safe .

A couple of years ago, dh spent 2 days sorting out our garden, cutting out huge rose bushes, laying bark etc to make the garden safe for ds1 (2 at the time).

When it was all done, we let him play and he was thrilled. Dh went out to get newspapers. I went to our downstairs loo, leaving the door open, which was right next to the back door to our garden.

I went back out to the garden and couldn't find ds anywhere. Rushed back in the house, calling for him, no sign.

Just as I felt all the blood drain from my face, the doorbell rang.

There was a complete stranger, holding ds's hand asking if he was mine . What a relief - he was found a few yards from the house, luckily the roads round here are v quiet.

Dh and I were baffled as to how he escaped, after about an hour, dh found a very small gap in the fencing behind the shed, which ds must have squeezed through.

We laugh about it now, because we'd spent ages childproofing the garden!

Omg puff, at least I knew mine had escaped with the gate being open, for you though it must have crossed your mind that someone had taken him.............very scary.

bloody hell, i can imagine the state you must ahve been in, bet you needed a stiff drink! so glad they were all fine.

waterfalls, you poor thing...have a stiff virtual drink on me!

I really HATE putting the shopping away with a child about! It seems to take so long and either DS is trashing what I've bought before it reaches the fridge, or as you say if he is out of the room, it goes all quiet and I just KNOW that mischief is happening....

If I were you I'd keep them in till the fencing is done, it's not worth the stress!

Just want to add, don't beat yourself up over this. Glad it was all ok and everyone was safe...My DS2 escaped from our garden last summer (I realised very quickly - within 2/3 minutes - but then looked for him in the fields next to us. By the time I realised he wasn't there, he'd reached the road at the top of our track). Luckily a driver stopped (DS2 was only in socks! and was only 3 yrs old).

I was in tears and totally neurotic for ages afterwards, hope the fact that you're not the only one this has happened to helps!

Thanks ladies, it certainly wont hapen again, I could have easily been telling a different story it was one hell of a warning call

Sparklemagic, yes my shopping gets trashed too, teeth marks in the cheese is a common one, and half a dozen yoghurts with the lids ripped off