The Burn

This post doesn't have any pictures, but I feel that it's necessary to include on my blog. I debated about posting it as it definitely will hurt my reputation as a mother, but I want to include all aspects of our life, not just the good. Hopefully it will help someone else think twice.

On day 3 in Sanibel I awarded myself the Worst Mom in America award. You see, the cottage had outlets in weird locations around the rooms and we tried to child proof the entire facility as much as we could. All breakable items were put up high and any cords were removed or covered. I guess we didn't do enough as the event following was just terrible.

As I dried my hair in the bathroom while we got ready for dinner, I heard Derek yell and Drew begin to scream. I ran into the room and that's when things got fuzzy. Words like 'curling iron', 'grabbed' and 'burn' were swirling around while Drew screamed his head off. I remembered that I had plugged in my curler on the ground thinking the door to that room was shut and Drew would not venture in there. I grabbed my screaming child to see his right index finger red on the inside and jetted to the freezer for some ice figuring that he had gotten in there somehow and grabbed the iron.

And then I almost threw up. And started hyperventilating. And shaking. I burned my child. My sweet little boy might have a scar forever on the inside of his hand and it's my fault. He's only 16 months old and he just experienced something this painful and it's my fault. {Cue throat dropping into the pit of my stomach}

I won't spare you the details on the tears shed and words yelled, but in the end it could have been much worse than it really was. Apparently Derek grabbed the iron out of his hand VERY fast and he ended up only having one blister on one finger. He calmed down and stopped crying within 15 minutes (much unlike myself) and it really only seemed to bother him the rest of the trip when he would fall and catch himself on that hand. I, on the other hand, was pretty distraught the rest of that evening. Despite my mom telling me shit happens and assuring me that I was a wonderful mother and it wasn't my fault, the guilt you carry when something like this happens doesn't ever leave. I still can't believe I caused my little boy that much pain, all because I wanted to curl my hair.

I know stuff like this happens and it's called life, but it's still hard to accept. I'm hoping that my Drew won't remember the event and I can remove my Worst Mom in America award someday, but for now I'm still a bit shaken when remembering that moment.

Feel free to share your worst parenting tragedy as I'm hopefully not the only one who accidentally caused their child distress!