Guess who got to show off a shiner this past Easter weekend?
Leave it to LadyP, the corner of a big cardboard book and some giggling, rambunctious activity that I was (unfortunately) instigating. Yes, I was taught a very important lesson:
NEVER LAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND CLOSE YOUR EYES WITH A TODDLER. EVER. Unless you enjoy getting clocked on the side of the skull in an effort to get your attention to read your baby’s favorite book AGAIN Mommy!
Bunny ears WILL make you feel better.
Additional lessons:
Frozen teething rings make fabulous cold compresses to reduce swelling.
Immediate redness (shown in the picture here) does mean things will turn very ugly – black – in about 24 hours. (I’m opting not to show you what it turned into to save your stomach.)
Going to church Easter Sunday – with a black eye (and without your husband, thanks to him staying at home to watch your newborn baby) will earn you sideways looks of concern from others in the congregation.
3-2-1 knockout.
Going to the pediatrician’s office will also earn you looks of concern… as well as apparent skepticism from the doc when she asks you “What happened to your eye” and you reply “My toddler clocked me with Brainy Baby 1-2-3’s.”
I also learned that – as tough as I already am – I need to give myself a break. For the next 24 hours after this incident, I felt like a failure (even though I HATE it when parents say that). I was furious – with MYSELF. Am I raising an out-of-control child? Does she hate me because I had another baby? Am I not paying enough attention? No and No. Maybe. But the bottom line is: It was an accident. She’s a toddler. She’s one-and-a-half. She barely even knows how to pronounce her own name. But I did make it clear that Mommy was hurt and swinging books around is not okay. Now that I’m on the mend, I just need to pay closer attention from here on out… and keep my eyes wide open.
EVER GOTTEN CLOCKED BY YOUR KID?
