Major Mom to Poison Control

Elvis rockin' the exersaucer

Ruby this morning "building" with markers before "the incident"

Since the big clean up of our house we've been on a pretty great schedule (one that unfortunately hasn't included blogging or balancing the checkbook. . both of which I am resolving today). We wake up, eat, play, I take a shower, and we all get dressed to face the day. This morning we made a slight adjustment to the routine when I let Ruby follow me into my room after my shower (I usually leave her to play in her room while Elvis takes his morning nap).  She'd be WITH me, what could go wrong??? I'll tell you what! She found herself playing in the last room to be kid proofed...meaning it hasn't been yet! She was going through one of those plastic drawer units which I thought only had hair rollers, craft paper, and a little left over fabric in it when she found her fav. . .toothpaste. OK, nothing to worry about, she knows about toothpaste and the tubes were actually empty if you don't count the few molecules that are left when you just can't squeeze anymore. (Please, don't ask why there were used up toothpaste tubes in there because I have no idea!) It was all no big deal until she dug up a tube of Arnica Cream that had PLENTY left in it and mistook it for toothpaste! OH LORD, help me! She had already squeezed a handful (with her little hands it didn't look like more than a teaspoon maybe) by the time I saw what was going on. . .she took off running towards the open door AND the stairs!!! She KNOWS NOT TO GO DOWN THE STAIRS BY HERSELF, but when she gets that crazy terrible two look in her eyes anything is possible! I grabbed for the only thing I could reach, her shirt collar. I pulled her in close to me as fast as I could to make sure she hadn't eaten any, but couldn't tell.  Both of us crying I washed her hands off best I could then noticed it. The horrible burn my pulling her collar left on her neck! OMG! What happened??? After apologizing to my 2 year old child profusely, struggling to ignore another wailing child who was safe in his bed, I searched for my phone and the number to Poison Control (for those of you that need it, it is: 1-800-222-1222). All of this probably happened in the course of a few minutes, but it seemed like hours!!! The guy at PC reassured me that it wasn't going to hurt her. . .maybe just a sour stomach or vomiting (btw, he called back about 2 hours later to check on her!), but nothing life threatening. After being so wonderful this morning quickly turned into a "bad mommy morning"! I tried hard to get our day back on track. I even made us a hot lunch. . .Taco Salad (Ruby's was more just nachos. .she isn't known for even touching salad much less eating it). I struggle every day with the idea that I am my children's teacher.  I love it when I see them doing something that I've taught them as long as it is helpful or "good", but I worry endlessly that I am not the "perfect example" for them especially when they repeat my not so perfect behavior. Yes, Ruby has learned a few 4 letter words from us and she has a temper that is somewhere between Al's and mine!  I am so mad at myself for even letting crappy things happen or bad words slip from my mouth even if it is only sometimes.  I know that no one is perfect all the time, that I should cut myself some slack. The only way I feel better about my imperfections as a parent is to know that they are gaining valuable lessons in how to apologize, make things right, and turn around a bad situation. That's something, right?