It could have been so much worse

[howdididothis]

I don't know where to put this but my god I feel so stupid and an awful mum.

This morning me and DD (20 months) went out and halfway round the shop I gave her my car keys as she was getting a bit fed up, kept her happy and all was well.

I knew I would have trouble getting the keys back off her (I know I shouldn't have given them to her to begin with!!!) so got her in her car seat first and then went to take the keys off her. As I was shutting the door they dropped out of my hands and into the car pretty much straight into DD's hands. She clicked the car lock button on the keys and that was it, she was locked in and I was locked out. Through the window she was laughing to herself and kept clicking the lock car (obviously she has no idea what it meant she just thought it was fun to press a button) I was willing her to click the unlock one instead. After what felt like an hour but in reality was about 3 minutes she clicked unlock and I opened the door.

Reading this back it sounds made up but it's honestly not. I feel so so stupid and it could have been so much worse, had she not grabbed the keys and so they fell onto the floor or didn't eventually click unlock.

I am an idiot, that is all.

It really doesn’t sound made up at all, and I say that because it’s happened to my
partner and to at least two friends! If she had dropped the key, you could have called someone to bring you the spare or worst case called RAC or similar. I think one friend called the fire brigade! Really not something to stress about now that it’s over.

Learning by doing.

My DD once partially slid the bottom dead bolt when I nipped to put a bag of rubbish in the outdoor bin. She was about the same age. It felt like ages to get the door open!

Ds was in the car, strapped in, I'd put the keys in the ignition then stopped to chat - school run, so I was out of the car, he was in it, doors closed. Window very slightly open. Bloody car just locked itself! I had to talk him through getting out if the car seat and opening the door from the inside.

My 2 GC's, when they were v young, locked us out of our holiday caravan. Had to get site staff to break in. They thought it was hilarious. Me, not so much

Don't beat yourself up, these things happen

Don’t beat yourself up!
it’s one of those things.
i hope writing it down has made you feel better xx

Literally yesterday my almost 2 year old locked herself in our back bedroom because my husband forgot to turn the autolock off. She was fine and laughing until the banging started then screamed hysterically as we booted the door for 5 minutes to get her out. Shit happens! Unintentional mistake don’t make you a bad parent as long as they’re not repeated and the child is under any harm

The fact that it’s made you so upset is a good indicator that you’re far from an awful mum. You’ll never do it again and no harm was done so there are positives to be drawn!

I was such a good/diligent/sensible mum. Before I had kids 🤣

Did I read that right? You have a bedroom which automatically locks? And then can't be unlocked from the outside? Is it some sort of panic room? I can't think why else you'd have an auto locking bedroom door.

When DS was about 18mths I got locked out of the house when he was inside. Luckily one of the upstairs windows was open so a helpful neighbour with a long ladder climbed up and squeezed himself through the window and opened the front door. I can't explain how thankful I was that the window was open!

I remember when I was 4 and my mum let me run ahead to the house the last few meters with the keys in hand. I promptly posted them through the letterbox and locked us out of the house.

These things happen, lesson learned, hold onto your keys firmly or have spares somewhere you can always get to them.

This is more common than you might think….and I say this as the parent who had to have a lady in a retail park call the fire brigade for me as my 12 month old managed to click the lock button on my car key just as the wind blew the door shut….said 12 month old then promptly threw the keys on the floor 🤯. The fire brigade turned up blue lights and sirens in their fire engine and smashed the window. They told me they get many of these calls and not to worry but I have never been so mortified in my entire life ….. it was 12 years ago now and since then it’s a rule in our house that children aren’t allowed to play with keys….my eldest likes to tell any child who picks up keys they shouldn’t and why 🤣

Same here , went out to the dustbin and the front door slammed shut with toddler inside, all the windows were shut , my neighbour called the fire brigade who prized the garage door open and smashed through the door into the house .

goodness, is that the worst that has ever happened! That isn't terrible at all!

I once locked my mum into the laundry cupboard. She was there til our Dad got home that night. I was about 3, my brother was two, and sat all day in his high chair, and my sister was a tiny baby in her cot.

I couldn't get mum out. She couldn't get out. I have never been allowed to forget this.

Once I was taking the rubbish out – wheelie bin literally directly outside the front door. Left the door wide open obv as DS was with me (3 at the time I think)… I turned to go back inside just to see him in the doorway, looking up at me with the most angelic look on his face, hand on the door to slam it with all his might. Just caught the door before it slammed locked and took advantage of the moment to teach DS about never shutting mummy outside!

Happend to us! DS (2 next month) is obsessed with the car. Him and DP go out there to just sit in the front sear and he plays with the steering wheel.

Anyway, DP got out and in a split second DS picked up the keys and shut the door and locked it.

I was BESIDE myself with panic. DS meanwhile was just sat in the car chill as an ice cube while we tried to get him to press the unlock button.

DP went to get a brick to smash the back window when I suddenly remembered we had a spare key. Whole thing was 10 minutes but felt like hours.

Do not feel bad! It happens! We look back now and laugh (and then I go and double check the spare key is still in the same place...)

Also just to add DP laughed at me for "wasting money buying a spare car key" - I will not let him forget this one - infact I'll remind him right now haha