Thursday, July 1, 2010

Help Please!

Okay, so this post may seem a bit desperate, but that's how I feel about this situation. Gracie isn't even two years old yet, but she is as big as a three year old at least. And I am convinced the girl is pure muscle. Last week she somehow figured out how to get out of her crib. We are talking a full size crib with the mattress as low as it can go. I've seen her do it. It's no big deal for her. She hoists herself up and swings her leg over the side of the crib and very smoothy with lots of control lowers herself down. It's actually quite impressive. Though I don't exactly enjoy her enthusiasm to do this every morning at 6AM, sometimes earlier! Anyway, I can handle the crib thing, that was going to happen at some point anyway. Here's what I need help with....

Today I had a Dr. appointment. My good friend Amanda who has 4 kids of her own took Gracie for me for the appointment. They have a house and a nice fenced back yard, and Gracie LOVES being outside. They live across the street from the park as well, which Gracie also LOVES.
Well, when I went to pick her up, Amanda said she had to scold Gracie, not because she was naughty, but because she had figured out in less than 2 minutes (literally) how to climb the shorter part of their fence. I guess there is a city ordinance or something that only allows a 4 foot fence in your front yard. So Gracie climbed the fence and started heading across the street to the park.
Now I know that Gracie just does not have any fear. She will try and do anything. She has run out in the parking lot several times and in the street a few times as well (because she's a fast little thing, and she gets to the street before I can grab her!) The problem is, there is a difference in toddlers testing their boundaries and being (age appropriate) naughty sometimes, and doing something that is DANGEROUS. Time out totally works for most situations with her. And she is really a good girl. I don't let her get away with too much naughtiness. But this is different. I truly don't believe she was trying to be naughty when she hopped the fence. She has been asking for two days to play on the slide, and it was within her reach today. However, this is DANGEROUS, and I just don't know what to do to make her understand that. I have talked to her about it, and I have popped her on the bum a few times, which I am really not a fan of, but the she needs to understand the difference between we don't do something because it's not nice, and we don't do something because she could get seriously hurt or killed.

I know she understands A LOT of what I tell her, but she doesn't seem to get the severity of running in the street or away from where I can see her. I have to remember sometimes, that she isn't even two yet.
Has ANYONE ever had to deal with this in such a young toddler. Any advice, suggestions, recommendations on how I can address this with her would be greatly appreciated!

One thing is for sure....being a Parent is NOT FOR SISSIES!
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2 comments:

Carissa said...

We have a slide not far from our new house (you can see it from our front yard) and we have to cross the street twice to get there. More than once after moving in Ashlyn saw the slide and took off running. I don't think their little minds even register the danger.

We instigating a FIRM hand holding policy any time we are in a street or parking lot. We would walk to the park, but could only cross the street if we 1) looked both ways for cars and 2) were holding hands. At first it would make Ashlyn SO MAD that she had to hold my hand. I think I was infringing on her little independence. hehe I remember tightly gripping her wrist more than once and shuffling her across the street while she shouted "No hand Mommy! NO!". If she give me a really hard time (or tried to run) I would pick her up (which she hated even more) or we would turn around and start to walk home until she was ready to try again (usually the threat was enough to get her to remotely cooperate). It took lots of practicing (we've lived here for 2 months :) ) but now she gets it. 90% of the time she waits for me and holds my hand across the street and in parking lots without a problem. These two years old are awfully smart (and stubborn!) so it takes some practice. I think it also helped that we were walking to the slide so she could see her "reward" if she crossed the street correctly. Good luck!

p.s. have you thought about putting Gracie in a toddler bed? You'll have to take pictures/video her crib escape sometime. :)

July 1, 2010 at 9:49 AM
The Madsen Family said...

I know how scary it is to have little ones making a break for it! Jax broke out of the house twice and ran right down the sidewalk that ran right along the busy street. To which we put locks on the door at the top and scolded him for running away. He is easy to please and said "okay mommy" and that was the end of it. Muzette was a little more bold but she seemed to understand a lot too. What scared into staying away from the street was when she saw Molly almost get smashed by the garbage truck and your mom drove it home to her that she could get smashed too. I would just keep talking to her and making a point that she must hold hands at all times outside when getting in and out of a car or crossing parking lots. The good news is eventually the DO outgrow this business. Also I would move her to the toddler bed... it will at least prevent her from accidentally falling. With Jax after the 1st week of being in a toddler bed we would tell him, "YOu don't get out unless mommy or daddy come get you." After a week he was solid on it and still will not get out with us saying ok. That was a year ago. Good luck! This to shall pass :)

July 1, 2010 at 8:58 PM

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