“Today I almost killed my daughter”; Mum shares why you can’t be too careful
I feel sick even writing this, I’m not sharing our story for attention or sympathy but as a scary wake up call for us all – to stay vigilant. The truth is I’m so beyond embarrassed that it happened ‘on my watch’, because I’m such a cautious parent as it is, but I feel it’s important to share in the hope that this, or similar NEVER happens to anyone else.
Quick, little fingers
It was like any other regular afternoon of ours, which includes me in the kitchen prepping dinner with Nylah playing with cups and pots at my feet. I had peeled and chopped the potatoes, placing them in the pot and the knife back on the board, when I took one step to the left to remove the husk from the corn. As quickly as I had briefly stepped away, Nylah had stood up and grabbed the board from the bench. Which resulted in a 20cm knife falling and narrowly missing stabbing her in the face.
“I was shocked she could even reach”
My heart sank. I felt sick, and still do. At the thought of the shoulda, coulda and wouldas, and how quick everything just happened, within the blink of an eye. Once the initial shock had passed, I began to cry, thinking of how lucky we were that she wasn’t even left with a scratch. Up until this afternoon’s incident, she had never reached up for the bench, nor grabbed anything off it. It shocked me that she could even reach. Unfortunately accidents like this happen all the time.
Better safe than sorry
I’ve copped so much shit in the past for being a ‘helicopter’ parent, or one that is overly cautious. And I’ve always worn it on the chin because I know at the end of the day, it’s better to be safe than sorry, mum says. Children are SOO quick, and we can really never be TOO careful.
I implore everyone to be so so careful and remain extra vigilant, but especially so
- in the kitchen,
- the bathtub (don’t leave any children unattended even for a split second, they can slip and hit their head, or worse, in the blink of an eye)
- in and around pools / lakes / dams / rivers / waterways and beaches,
- in carparks (I know it is hard, but I have a strict routine when getting the kids out of the car – I put Kruize’s shoes on, close the door, go around and put Nylah’s shoes on, get her out, then return to get Kruize out, ensuring to hold his hand the entire time we cross roads, walk along paths etc),
- in the home be sure to secure hanging blind, curtain and electrical cords out of reach of young children as they pose a serious strangulation risk for babies and children under six years old.
Don’t be so quick to judge
It is also a timely reminder that we should NEVER judge another mother or family in the face of tragedy (or ever really?). All too often I see comments on social media in relation to tragedies and accidents (such as drownings or children who have wandered off) saying things like
- ‘How could that even happen’,
- ‘Where were the parents?’
- ‘That would NEVER happen to me’.
Truth is it CAN happen to you (we all pray and hope it doesn’t), these types of things happen to EVERYDAY people EVERYDAY. They are labelled ‘accidents’ for a reason, they are purely accidental, freak occurrences. Children are determined, inquisitive and lightening speed escape artists. So please, keep comments, opinions and judgements to yourself, and take these incidents as lessons and warnings to always stay on the ball. Hug your babies tighter tonight, because I know I will be.
I’m so thankful that someone was watching down on us today to protect my little Wildflower, even when I couldn’t.
This article was republished with permission from That Mum Wife Travel Life. You can read more of Bec Crombie’s writing on her blog or follow the Brisbane based mum of two on Instagram and Facebook.
