One of the WORST Moments of My Life..

[saved4always]

No judgement here.....just understanding. Like former teacher said, you are human. We ALL are and because of that (and the fact that we cannot see into the future), stuff happens. I did that to my mother one time when I was little. I think she went out to the mailbox or something really quick like that. I locked the screen door behind her but she couldn't get me to unlock it. She stopped a neighbor boy who was passing by and I beilieve he was able to get the screen out so she could get back in. Scared her silly.

This could happen to any of us. I have gone out to the mailbox while all the kids were napping before and, when my own kids were little, I am sure that I would go to the mailbox or to the garage to get rid of garbage while they were awake. I was never locked out, but I could have been.

If it did happen to me, I probably would have told the parents just because I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut. I think the story would just slip out . I don't think any of my particular parents would have been concerned about it, especially if thier child was not the one free to roam the house. Knowing the parents I had, they would probably have laughed at me.

I am glad that you were able to get back in relatively quickly and that your son stayed by the door. I hope you have had a calm day after all that!

[littlemissmuffet]

Great job handling a very stressful situation!! happyface

It's never happened to me, but it did happen to my sister who is also a daycare provider. Her hubs had to drive all the way home from work to let her back in... he thought it was funny.

[Heidi]

You did fine!

Your husband is not your parent. Next time he acts like it, say "I'm so sorry to disappoint you, DAD!

A similar situation happened to me years ago when I was a Nanny. My son and dcb (both 20 months old) where playing in the livingroom. I was tidying the kitchen, and the garbage was full. So, I took it to the hallway (right outside the door, but INSIDE the 2 unit building). The door slammed behind me, and I had 2 toddlers in there!

The door could open from the inside, but not the outside. The boys came to the door...and I tried to coach them to "turn the handle". The cat's water dish was right there...which they knocked over, then slipped on. They were like 2 fish in there flopping around on the floor, and I was outside...frustrated and laughing and crying at the same time. I knew they were safe...because they were obviously both right on the otherside of the door.

This was before cell phones...and the house phone was INSIDE.

I think they eventually turned the knob and let me in.

A few weeks later, the same dcb locked himself in the bathroom of the same flat. I ended up having to push the key out (one of those "skeleton keys") and snag it under the door somehow.

Both those boys are 22 year old men now...somehow they survived my mad nanny skills!

[MizzCheryl]

Happened to me too Breezy. We were going on a field trip and I locked myself outta the house with no keys and 5 kids. Its pretty funny now. Had to drag all the kids to a neighbors to call my exhusband to come let us in. He was mad too. I told all the parents. They laughed.
You handeled it great. It takes alot of nerve to call the fire dept. And lucky you had your phone. happyface

[SunnyDay]

What a scary situation! You handled it perfectly.

[jen]

When I was doing daycare, I stepped outside to toss some stinky diapers in the garbage. The daycare kids were all sleeping and the school-agers were playing on my front porch. I left the front door open and one of the daycare kids slammed the door behind them on the way out...and yes, it was locked.

I was able to get in the garage, but not in the house. I grabbed a ladder, went to every windor until I found one that wasn't locked, ripped the screen off and climbed through. Little daycare boy woke up as I clammered through his window. He thought I'd lost my mind ::

My daycare parents thought it was hysterical. Thank God no one thought I was robbing my own house and called the police.

It happens, don't be so hard on yourself.

[DaisyMamma]

I would be very upset too, but you really didnt do anything wrong!
Because the fire dept came you'll have to tell dcp. good luck :hugs:

[vonp]

Omygosh...nothing scarier but I think you acted just fine in the situation.

It reminds me of a time I was with a friend who did child care and she asked if I would ride with her to the store for milk and the bank (cashing her checks for the weekend). We had 6 kids with us including my youngest. On the way back from the grocery store (we took the kids inside because the bakery would give them a free cookie) my friend realized the baby had pooed her diaper. We strapped all the rest of kids in their carseats for the return ride home and locked the doors because we had one little DCB who liked to open the door while we were driving (NOT GOOD!!!)

Anyhow, my friend changes the babies diaper in the back of the van and shuts the trunk and realizes she's lost her keys We looked everywhere. In the car, under the car, on top of the car. She practically stripped her clothes off looking for them. Meanwhile we've got 5 kids sweating to death in the car. Mind you this was in the days before cell phones....we debated calling the husband, a locksmith, the police, fire dept etc. Finally she says to me : Take the baby I'll go check in the store to see if I dropped them accidently. I take the baby and shift her to my hip and feel a lump in her diaper...guess what it was...THE KEYS::::::

It probably took 10 years off our lifespans while the panic was setting in and gave us a few gray hairs early but she decided to get one of those magnetic key cases and kept a spare "super-glued" to the underside the car from then on!

It can happen to anyone!