Yesterday I had a scare. A big one. We were at the Home Depot parking lot and Gavin literally almost got run over. I had McKay in his carseat in my right arm and was holding Gavin's monkey leash/backpack in my left. There was an old man in the first handicapped spot pulling out. I noticed that he was backing out and grabbed Gavin's hand. Gavin fell down and was behind the corner of the car as he backed out. I tried to pull him back up but he couldn't get back on his feet. It was then the alarm inside me realized that the car wasn't stopping. He didn't see Gavin. Surprisingly, I was very calm and was just trying to get him out of the way. I kept pulling and dragging and finally the car stopped, turned, and drove away. At first I was bugged. He didn't even stop! But of course he would have stopped had he known what was going on behind him. I bent down to check Gavin out and he wimpered a bit. I don't think he knew what was going on other than mom pulling him really fast. Two men in a truck who had seen what happened drove right up and asked if we were okay. I was shaking. I was upset. I couldn't even look at the plants I had gone there to buy.
As I have replayed the events in my mind over and over again, I realize a few things I should have done differently. First, I shouldn't have been walking that close to the cars from behind in the first place. Second, we always hold hands in a parking lot. No matter what. Third, I should have yelled or made a face or noise so the man would have known that something was wrong. I think it was good that I was calm, but when he looked back at me he might have stopped had he seen more distress on my face. It's easy to go back and say woulda - shoulda - coulda. It's just in that moment that you hope you do the right thing and that you do it fast enough.
Visions of me throwing him to the side had the car been going faster have come into my mind. I read this blog here today and couldn't help but think about it again. Also from reading this I realized that yes, I would throw myself in front of a car for my boys. But it is those small daily decisions - time spent, questions answered, hugs given - that show my undying love for them.
I'm so grateful things turned out the way they did. I've said lots of thank you prayers to tell Heavenly Father that.
7 comments:
Wow, so scary! I am so glad it turned out okay. I can't imagine what I would have done in your place. I am so impressed with your calmness!
Yikes! What a scary experience! But you're right about the title: Lessons Learned...that's what life is about, right?
Glad you and your little boys are safe. I hate when I have "close calls"- but they are good reminders to keep us on our toes.
I, too, am glad that everything turned out okay!
Blessings from Heaven. And I love the superhero cape!
Glad everything turned out okay. We had a similar lesson back in the day and Carson is always good about holding my hand. What the heck am I going to do when I have a third child? I'm totally out numbered and don't have enough hands.
I think you're right--the only thing you really could have done differently would be to make a bunch of noise, even smacking the window of the moving car if you were close enough. Most drivers will instinctively slam on the brakes if there's a noise.
I'm with you though. It's always an adjustment to learn how to go out with more kids. We're still working out the rules of going out with three. It involves a lot of reminders to hold onto the stroller. I've learned to just take Maren's Snap N Go for the carseat everywhere, and make both kids hold on to each side. And then I hold Kennedy's hand ONTO the side of the stroller for good measure, since she's a greater flight risk!
One other idea for you in the future....in some cases I found it was easier/safer to leave both kids safely buckled in the car while I ran for a cart in a nearby cart collecter thingy, then load them both up there and head into the store. Then I would do the reverse after shopping, loading kids into carseats, then returning the cart.
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