[JohBD]

An incident with my toddler this morning made me wonder think how much easier it was when he sat in his bouncer and looked at me. He's so much more fun at this age, but so much more work too!

I was outside feeding our brood of six chickens and two bunnies when he locked the back screen door, locking me outside. He's obviously watched me doing it hundreds of times, but couldn't remember how to turn the lock back again once he'd done it. I realised how difficult it was to explain something complex to a 31-month-old, especially when all he wanted was a cuddle from mum.

In the end I grabbed a long stick and pushed it through the cat-flap (lucky we have cats too!) to open the lock. Before then, though, my mind was racing wondering how I was going to get into the house. I've had to break in before when the door slammed behind me as I went out to check the mail, but I didn't want to repeat climbing on top of our garbage bin and squeezing in through the kitchen window. I wasn't sure I actually could, considering I am 32 weeks pregnant with our second child!

So should I have a spare set of keys hidden somewhere around the house for this type of situation? I've given a spare set to both parents, but the phone was inside and it would have taken either one a while to come to our rescue. I'm not sure what the best solution to this problem is, but it brings me to another related issue we may soon face.

We plan on putting up our Christmas tree on the weekend and want to make it a big deal for our son, because while this is his third Christmas, it is the first he will really appreciate. I bought some beautiful decorations recently, but after I opened the box I saw they could be quite fragile. With two boisterous cats and a very active son I wonder how long these decorations will last. But that won't stop us from putting on the Christmas carol CD and dancing around our tree as we hang the tinsel and decorations. It's not like any of the decorations are family heirlooms.

Next step then is the Christmas presents. I am really interested to see how our son is going to react to the presents under the tree this year. Like I said, this is the first year he has a little understanding of what Christmas means. I took a photo of him last Christmas surrounded by presents looking slightly bewildered and wondering where to start. However this year he's been preparing for a Christmas concert at day care, today they are putting up the class Christmas tree and they have been making gift boxes to fill with goodies for their parents for a few weeks. He is excited about Christmas this time round - he points out Christmas trees, presents and loves looking at Santa when we go out shopping (a huge improvement on last year when I took him eight times to see Santa for a photo!).

I have a feeling he won't want to wait to unwrap everything (including other people's presents), but we'll see. I think if we hid everything until he went to bed on Christmas Eve it would take some of the excitement away - for him and us. We'll just have to wear the consequences of torn presents and half-opened boxes I think.

What do you do to ensure the kids don't lock you out? Or what Christmas safeguards do you have to outsmart the kids?

This post has been edited by EB-Ally: 02/12/2008, 12:42 PM

[raisins]

I lock the door while it's open when I go outside. That way even if it get's 'closed', it can't latch.

And for Christmas, I hide it all.....otherwise it'd be pretty obvious that Santa didn't bring them.
It's all part of the fun waking up and finding presents when there wasn't any there before!

[PeggyLou]

Hiding the presents isn't going to take away the excitement for him, imagine his face on Christmas morning, seeing all these colourful parcels sat there, when there weren't any before!

I have a three year old and this christmas is going to be such a hoot! He is far more excited and 'knows' what happens, it's all he talks about.

As for the doors. Well, my DS usually follows me outside anyway LOL and the times he has locked me outside, he has 'allowed' me back in and promptly gotten a good telling off and hasn't done it since.

Tash xxx

[JohBD]

Good idea Sarah. I must see if I can do that on our doors. As for presents from Santa, we haven't decided if everything comes from Santa or a combination from us and Santa. I guess we have to work that out pretty soon!

You're right Jitz. I can see we need to rethink our present strategy.

[acemummy]

My DH said to me the other day, if you go outside make sure you take your keys. Our DD1 age 2 can now lock the door, so being stuck outside is not a good idea, especially with a four month old. (either side of the door). So...
I went out with DD2 the other day and left DD1 with Daddy (DH) very rare for me. When I left they were playing happily out the back. Out of habit I of course locked the screen door....

Fear Not...DH had his keys