Locks, latches, barricades, guards. I remember glancing longingly at the Safety First kit given to us at one of the baby showers. I so looked forward to the days when my tiny, 100% dependent baby would venture a bit out on her own - her sense of curiosity outgrowing her sense of self-preservation - certain that between my watchful eye and the trusty plastic doodads I'd installed, that my sweet growing girl would be safe while the world taught her about judgement and cautiousness.
Now I have no baby. I have had no shower wherein other mothers who have lived through this gleamed and twinkled as they gifted me the equipment I'd need to keep my precocious child from harm's way. The latches I put up now are not installed with certainty that the one I guard from peril will soon absorb my lessons and be able to keep herself unharmed.
No. My husband buys the bolts and latches and new doorknobs from the hardware store. They don't come home in pretty paper and bows or with cards of congratulations and best wishes - instead they come in beige shopping bags, wearily tossed on the counter. We don't open and assemble them together, excitedly prolonging a freshly reached or anticipated milestone. Rather, I move myself to another part of the house to dull the heartache while my husband drills and hooks and hammers alone.
When he is done, I pass by to assess the effectiveness. Yes, that'll work. She won't be able to reach that. We don't celebrate, we don't grin or congratulate ourselves. We both know the frustration she'll feel when something she worked so hard to be able to open has now been changed up on her, that she has lost a freedom she just obtained. We dread latching and unlatching many times a day, little needling reminders that the safety propaganda didn't take hold, that little liberties are being removed one by one, instead.
She broke through our very old cedar fence in the back of our yard. I found her on the other side of the block. When we replace the fence, it will not be an aesthetic or resale value investment, we won't sort through quaint cuts and consider different styles. We will pick the basic one for the utilitarian function of keeping our daughter whole.
Today a hook and eye went up on the basement door. It's less than a foot away from the one we put up a few months ago on the back screen door. Seeing the two of them so close together kicks up a cloud of grim conjecture: heavy, glinting bolts on every last hinged thing in our home.
Back when we sprinkled the house with baby proofing gear like so many holiday baubles, we knew it was temporary.
We know no such thing now.
6 comments:
:( Ditto....with way too much understanding!
I can relate to every word of this and it breaks my heart. Our kitchen entrance is 5ft wide, we have THREE safety gates installed, one on top of the other, spanning the full 8ft to the ceiling. This summer, we have to turn the doorknob around on Nik's bedroom so we can lock him in at night. It feels so cruel and heartless despite the necessity of keeping him safe.
Sending hugs.
my heart goes out to you.
I am still not in that stage of life but i understand you it brings tears to my eyes just to think of when ill be doing the same thing. :(
This was a very beautiful and moving post. It's obvious that you love your daughter very much.
I think it speaks to feelings we often have as parents of kids with disabilities when they don't meet the typical milestones of their peers.
I'm going to list your blog on BLOOM. Thanks, Louise
Oh, I sure can relate to your feelings here! I have been trying to find more ways to keep my daughter, Gracie, safe.
My daughter has cerebral palsy and a chromosome disorder. She is 8 years old and non-verbal.
I read on your side bar that you daughter uses a communication device. I would love to see what she uses, and to hear what you think of it. We have been trying to get an AAC eval for my daughter since April, but have had lots of problems.
Nice to "meet" you,
Debbi
Post a Comment