Safety First

One of my biggest fears is Asher's safety. HE has NO fear. He's a runner and a climber. He is a strong, athletic kid. Because of his developmental delays, he can't be reasoned with at this point. Don't get me wrong, he knows what the word "no" means. Many times he will stop doing whatever he's doing long enough for me to get to him. BUT if it is something too enticing, he'll just go for it with lightning speed. Want to know some things he loves to do at my house?

1. He climbs on EVERYTHING. He's really smart about it. He grips those fat Flintstone feet on every handle or edging of a cabinet. He stands on the back of my couch which is about 2 inches wide. He stands there so proudly and balances himself.

2. He's discovered the attic. He goes in there and shuts the door. He doesn't care that he's in the dark and that there is nothing but a Christmas tree up there.  I have had to take the handle off and hide it.

3. His most recent discovery is the railing of the stairs. He likes to go to the very top and try to balance himself on the top rail. Needless to say, there always has to be a gate at the bottom of the stairs. He knows how to take it off, but it slows him down at least.

4. He will run out of every door in the house. My boys and their friends know that every door must be locked at all times. I won't even let Asher see me lock them. He's too smart.

**Big confession**
One day, I was going to take Asher outside to play. I opened the door and remembered my phone. I walked 3 feet and grabbed my phone from the chair. When I turned around, Asher was NO WHERE to be found. I ran outside and I called his name. Of course, he wasn't going to answer me. He didn't make a sound. I heard a horn honking. We live on a country road, but a tree lined hill leads to that road. I ran all the way around the trees. No Asher. I ran around to the backside of the house. He was standing at the edge of our pond throwing rocks. He never made one sound. He wasn't scared. He didn't notice that I was crying and breathless.

I know some of this is common toddler behavior. I have had 3 other toddlers. The difference is that in Asher's mind, in his way of processing,  he sees nothing wrong with any of it. He doesn't know he'll get hurt. He gets injured and continues the same behavior.

This is what goes on at my house. This is the place he is most familiar with and he makes it dangerous. Can you imagine me taking him in public? Y'all, we go places. We go in public. We go to Wal-Mart. We go to ball games. We go to restaurants. I can't enjoy myself. I'm a dang nervous wreck. Many sweethearts have offered to watch him at a ballgame or help occupy him while I'm tending to another child. I know how hard it is for me and I can't/won't put that on someone else. It's hard for me to not just stay home, but the more social he is, the better.  He loves to be around a crowd of people; I won't take that from him.