Adventures in parenting

Infants & toddlers can take months to accomplish a new feat like learning to crawl or walk or potty train. In some cases, accomplishments happen in the blink of an eye & you are unprepared for them. A couple nights ago, Hana learned how to lock the door in our bedroom. Unfortunately, she did it with her in the bedroom & us in the hallway. After 5 years in that house, we only then realized that the previous owners installed a doorknob that requires a key to unlock it. Sounds stupid but how closely do you examine doorknobs? Not surprisingly, we didn't have the key to open the door. It took only seconds for Hana to realize she could not get to us & we could not get to her so the screaming began. We knew we couldn't kick the door down because Hana was in the way & would get hit. I sat on the floor, trying to calm Hana. I put my hand under the door & felt her tiny hands grab it. I wanted to cry! After trying every spare key in the house & a coat hanger, Joe managed to cut a sharp piece of sheet metal & used it to shimmy open the door. Neither of us really thought it would work but were happily surprised when it did. A tiny, swollen, wet, beet red face appeared & collapsed in my arms! Now the bedroom & bathroom knobs have been disabled. Not one to be deterred by traumatic experiences, Hana continues trying to close doors but now she can't understand why the doors no longer stay closed!