Long gone are the days when I could safely leave my boys downstairs for a few minutes alone. Despite the child proofing - the outlet covers, the blind cord holders, the baby gates, the door knob covers, the double-keyed deadbolt and even the barrel locks at the top of other exterior doors - they are still a danger to themselves.
They like to climb, whether on the couch where they can bounce (it's like a mini-trampoline apparently) or on top of the dining room table, where they like to dance and play with the light fixture. They also like to push the dining room table chairs over to the light switches and play wit the fans and the lights. And they like to slam the drawers on the kitchen cabinets, despite the child safety locks, and sometimes smash their little fingers. They can even open the refrigerator unassisted, and Connor can actually reach things now! There are just too many irresistible ways to get into trouble, especially if Mommy is not watching.
If these were not reason enough to keep a close eye on them, I now have the added job description of referee. Connor, as the oldest, has decided being in charge is the way to go, especially when Mommy leaves the room (though he's also pretty willing even if Mommy is right there with them). He loves, absolutely LOVES, to tell his little brothers what to do. "No, do it this way!" he will shout, if they're not playing the way he thinks they should. And heaven forbid they should do something they're not supposed to, like climb on said dining room chairs or play with the blinds on our sliding glass doors. For both, Connor will scream "No, no, Babies!" as he runs over to them. If it's the chairs, he will physically pull them down, with little care or concern that what he's doing is more likely to hurt them than anything else. If it's the blinds, he's taken to swatting at their hands, just as Mommy does, but it doesn't go over well with brothers. There's usually loud screaming, sometimes shoving and hitting, and always tears. Good times.
