When my boys get ready for school, it is a very tiring event. They go back to bed because they are cold. They jostle each other at the breakfast table, slopping cereal everywhere. They manage to wipe toothpaste all over the bathroom cupboards, my hairbrush, and sometimes themselves. And to top it all off, they always end up goofing around and wrestling or giving each other piggy back rides up and down the hall. In spite of all my pleading, bribes, nagging, and various threats (from “I’m going to take you to school looking like that” to “No more Nintendo for the rest of your lives!”) I get no results. It is like we are in parallel universes. They don’t even register my presence. Or that I am actually talking to them. Needless to say, they are late a lot of the time. So I should have know yesterday morning was too good to be true when they wound up ready to go 15 minutes before we need to leave. I thought “This is great” and I rewarded them with a quick little bit of a cartoon. So, they are sitting and watching this cartoon and I am putting on my shoes. I am so happy that the morning went pretty well. I was totally caught off guard when my 7 year old yelled out “Fire!” Yep, a fire – in the space heater. Seems some little girl stuck a soft toy through the vents on the front of the space heater. And then she plugged it in. So the little toy started to burn. Little flames are coming out of the front of the space heater. I don’t think I even thought about what to do. You just react. I picked up the space heater and told the kids to stay where they were. (I didn’t want to leave it with them) I ran out into the foyer with it and put it down on the floor. I took the stairs three at a time and grabbed the biggest glass I could. Filled it really full. Ran back down to the burning heater and poured that water on it. Fire out, right? Nope. It only sizzled. AAAAAHHH! Back up the stairs for another glass of water. Back to the heater. The flames look bigger now. I carefully knock the heater over on it’s side and pour the water right into the vents this time. Phew – fire goes out this time. Oh, look at that – we’re late for school… (sigh)
*Disclaimer* No actual children were harmed in this situation. Property damage was contained to a small space heater and a soft toy. Some teachers experienced minor classroom disruption. Space heater pictured is a reproduction. All persons who took part in this event remain in good health and have suffered no emotional trauma. : )
Have a great day!
Oh no! Glad that all of you are safe. Your little boy is very smart to call out right away.
Whew! I’m so glad you’re all alright!
…and I thought my morning was bad…my almost 12 year old darling daughter came limping into the bathroom and said, “Mom, I think I found my mechanical pencil…” Yes, she did, with the bottom of her foot! We had to spend some stressfull minutes digging a piece of lead about a 1/2″ long out of her foot. She was squealing, and waving her arms frantically, while her rational almost 16 year old sister stood by advising her to “put a box around her pain…now close the lid…” to which my 12 year old promptly yelled, “Get out! You’re not helping!!” I sort of had to agree.
Here’s to a better “get ready for school morning” tomorrow. We can always hope!
Bethany~
Oh my goodness! Are you sure you don’t have my kids???? It sure sounds like it to me! Your story is frightening, indeed. You sure lightened it up a bit with that great disclaimer at the end
I am very glad to hear everyone is ok and your house didn’t burn down. Take care!
OH……MY……GOODNESS!!!! You handled that like the time the toaster ate my PopTart and got BAD heart burn and my Mama had to rescue us. I was only 9, and I thought the toaster was taking too long on my PopTart but was watching my Mama double checking sis’ homework and there was that clear WHOOSH sound that fire makes and my mom calmly took over and used the fire extinguisher….then cussed about the bottom of the cabinets being singed (b/c we were renting). I didn’t get any breakfast that morning now that I think about it……. Stupid toaster!
LOL!
Glad that everyone is OK and hope that your poor heart slowed down b/c I remember a similar incident for me, but involving a block pushed inside the cage of a very large (I would say industrial sized) fan, a pregnant me, and an 18 month old Thade. You wouldn’t believe the God awful noise a plastic block can make in one of those things. And the scream that the kid can let out. AND the fear of the Mama that was positioned on the opposite side of the fan but didn’t know if it was safe to get around to snatch up the kid. I did it though. And pulled the plug out of the wall. He hadn’t placed the block in as it was on, but before it was on and I didn’t notice it when I turned the fan on. I guess it took a few minutes to actually catch (and bend it pretty badly causing the noise) the block. GEEZ I was terrified at that moment!
WHEW! Got nervous just replaying it in my mind!