The little guy's never in his room, so I wasn't expecting much when I grabbed the handle to look inside. But it was locked. It's never locked. He doesn't even know how to lock the door.
Yet, there it was. He must have locked himself in there. I banged and screamed for him to open the door. So did Mr. Humphries. 15 minutes later, we started to become unnerved that he wouldn't even respond. If he was sleeping, how was it possible that he could stay asleep through the house-shattering noise we were creating out there?
I started having visions of him lying unconscious on the floor, having choked on some candy he wasn't supposed to have...or worse. Finally, I told Mr. Humphries just to break the door down. I couldn't wait one second longer. So he did. He kicked the door right in half! And guess what? Little guy still didn't wake up! We had to grab him and shake him to make him respond at all. He was totally fine. Just tired. Just totally friggin' tired!
Lessons learned:
- Get a key for those doors.
- Cherish that little guy, even when he drives me insane and makes me buy new doors.
- Make more scenes in my book like that. I've felt that kind of tension in reading good books. I felt it in the extreme last night, but that's what I am going for. Gripping desperation to know what is happening.
- How to break a door down...
Have you experienced any extreme circumstances like this?
I would have had a heart attack! :P And I'm loving your book. I should have it back to you tonight or tomorrow. ;)
ReplyDeleteI was up literally all night with my youngest throwing up. He has asthma on top of it. I was terrified all night, but he was awake too, breathing, and functioning, so, so was I. After a doctor's visit DH and I found out he was Strep. So yes, I know/feel your fear.
ReplyDeleteScary. My kids locks are easy to pop open with a tooth pick. I like it that way. He's a heavy sleeper.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. When my oldest was only six weeks, he got a horrible stomach virus. One night, his diaper remained completely dry and when he cried, no tears came. I was in a panic. But I let him sleep, and I was determined to take him to the ER for an IV once he woke up.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, he woke up hungry - and he was able to keep it in his belly. Phew!
O.M.G! Those moments are so intense and scary. My 5 year old likes to sneak away thus leaving me ready to call the police, but I always call everyone in the neighborhood first. *sigh* So embarrassing. Luckily we haven't had to call the police YET. *knock on wood*
ReplyDeleteOh geez. That sounds so scary! I would have broken down the door too.
ReplyDeleteI left you an award on my blog ;)
How unnerving, and yet action-packed (to read as a story later on). Glad everyone is alright (minus the door). Remind me not to get on Mr. Humphries bad side. :)
ReplyDeleteMy friend's little girl took off down the street at my house and in the chaos of 6 kids running in the backyard, it took us a while to notice she was missing. It also took us a while to FIND her.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, so intense and stressful. I'm not sure my hubby would be able to break the door down.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad he was okay.
We were at a family Christmas party and I thought one of the cousins was watching my littlest. When he wasn't with her I searched everywhere for him. He'd stepped outside to get fresh air, by himself and in the front yard NOT the back. I was freaked out!
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ReplyDeleteI've never experienced anything like this... only the sound of silencem, which means that something has happened that wasn't supposed to happen.
ReplyDeleteI bet you were having a heart attack imagining all the horrible things that could have happened to him! I would have been terrified.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your little guy is okay. We don't have locks on any of our bedroom doors. Except ours :)
Oh my gosh. I've experienced something almost exactly like this! Except he wasn't asleep-- he was only 1 1/2 or 2 and went into my room and fiddled with the lock. He figured out how to lock the door, but couldn't figure out how to UNlock it, and started freaking out. Totally freaking out. We didn't have a key, and had to bust the door down! We were worried that he wouldn't be far enough from the door when we tried, so we just kept telling him to back up and hoped for the best. The frame is what broke, though, not the door. I'm sorry you had to go through something so stressful!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love that you had the thought to write scenes like that! As un-fun as it is to go through in real life, it's GREAT stuff to read about!
Woah - that is a fantastic story! I'm so sorry that happened to you. I totally understand that frantic feeling!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :)
oh dear God, I was freaking out just reading about it... I would have lost it and definitely taken the door down.. well the husband would've, not me obviously ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad he was just really tired. how scary.. well you did an awesome job here in taking us through it I think we all felt the anxiety,.. so I'm pretty sure you can do it in your fiction :)
I am so glad everything is okay. Man! What a scare!
ReplyDeleteI prefer my door to easily open by a pin or a toothpick.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to include that part of the story...yes, we tried to open it with some pins, wire, etc. Didn't work unfortunately :(.
DeleteOh goodness I remember that horrible feeling, the cold sweat and the fear of 'what if...'. 'Lost' mine a couple of times when they were small. I wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone.
ReplyDeleteI think every mother has experienced that moment of panic when her child hides within a clothing rack at a department store and doesn't answer when you call out. Scary stuff, but yeah, it makes good material!!
ReplyDeleteKids are so sneaky! Glad it wasn't anything serious.
ReplyDeleteWow, I sort of feel like that right now too. Kick the door down, I'll sleep through it. Glad you found him, and yes, insert this panic into your writing!
ReplyDeleteoh, imagine the cost for the new doors.... And how did he explain the locked doors??
ReplyDeleteHow scary! And mom's imaginations go into high gear whenever those situations arise. If I attempt to take a shower while I'm home alone with my two-year old I about have a panic attack wondering what he's doing then yell for him to come in the bathroom where I can see him. Glad your little guy is okay. Definitely a heart-pumping account.
ReplyDeleteThis got my heart pumping! I'm glad everything turned out okay...except for the broken door, of course.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time my son locked himself in a room. Pretty much the same experience as you except we didn't have to kick down the door. In hindsight it's kinda funny. And definitely find a way to open those doors. This won't be the last time.
ReplyDeleteOh no! That is scary! Maybe he was having a dream about having a play date with Dax and didn't want to wake up!
ReplyDeleteHoly crap! But on the upside, after all was settled down you were probably looking at Mr. H. with a whole new set of big-tough-man eyes. Just teasing.
ReplyDeleteWhen my oldest was 15 months I got locked out of the house and she was inside near the Christmas tree and the open stair gate and I could only see her through the window. I was hysterical!
Hah! I'm so glad this was just a case of the sleepies. :) Nice to have a husband who can break down the door.
ReplyDeleteHi, new follower here. :) I am so glad your little guy is okay! But I know what you mean -- that kind of tension is what we need to put into our manuscripts.
ReplyDeleteHow scary! I totally would have had my husband break down the door too. I hate that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach when you think your child is in trouble. Glad to hear he was just sleeping.
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