Yesterday we were getting dinner on the table. . . Tom was in and out of the house grilling steaks and we thought Tess was out in the back yard playing. It had only been 5 minutes or so before we realized she was missing. She was not in the back yard anywhere. We wondered if she was in the house and we just didn't know it. We searched the entire house twice. No Tess. I started to panic.
Just at the point of figuring what step to take next there was a knock on the door. It was one of our neighbor girls with Tessa in tote. "She was in our back yard." she said. OH!
How??? Our back yard is completely fenced 
and both gates were shut. . .Tom had checked. And then I knew. We had a loose slat that I noticed on Saturday. When I saw it, the thought came to me that Tess might be able to get out of it but I dismissed it. Come on. . .a 5 1/2 inch slat? Tess is little, but not THAT little. And it wasn't open enough so as to beckon a little trespasser. . .just a little loose. Besides we were extremely busy on Saturday.
Not only was she little enough to fit through, she figured out that she could get through. . .These kinds of things send fear straight to a mom's heart.
Thankfully once she got to the other side she went right to play on new (to her) toys instead of out their opened gate to the road or wandering through the neighborhood. I'm thankful that when Tessie's safety monitor (me) fails, guardian angels step in. And I have to keep learning that when those little thoughts come I need to heed them immediately. I'm a slow learner. Until then I keep praying those angels don't ever go off duty. It is a full time job with that girl from both sides of the veil.
The rest of the day she begged and begged to go in the back yard. Any question as to what she wanted?? Freedom from my clutches was just too sweet. The fence got fixed first thing this morning.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Safety Monitor Failed Again
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4 comments:
Tess just reminds me too much of Drew, except I think she has him beat. He escaped out of our fully fenced back yard a little over a week ago, but got caught on some barbed wire -- thank those guardian angels! It kept him from getting lost in the enormous pasture behind our house, falling into the rushing creek 50 yards away...I have to agree with your setiments on gratitude for guardian angels. They are real and I know it, too!
"Panic" doesn't come close to describing the feeling of losing a child. I have experienced it a couple of times with Jonny and know the depth of anxiety a parent feels. I, like you, believe in guardian angels. I hope Tessa's is full of energy - or there are several caring for her!
This little gal needs an army of guardian angels. Good thing that side is "organized".
Dad
I am so grateful for a loving neighborhood that loves our daughters! Mine has been known to just show up in other people's houses without them even knowing. She's startled more than one neighbor that way. (She has apparently outgrown that, so hang in there!) We'll just all hang in there together and keep thanking those angels.
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