Confession

I pride myself on being attentive to Deven and paying attention to him and what he is doing while in public. I got a dose of reality this weekend.

Deven and I stopped by a furniture store on Saturday to pick up a dresser my younger sister Lindsey had ordered. While the salesman was attempting to maneuver the large box in the trunk of my Altima he suggested that I fold down the back seat. I let him know that would be great but there was a large toddler carseat in the back that took up too much space to be able to fold down the seat. He proceeded to tie down the trunk but knowing that I would be driving to Provo the next day and that I would need a safer solution for the trip I decided I might as well move the carseat in preparation for that drive down I-15, the last thing I wanted was to see her lovely new dresser parts spread out all over the Southbound lanes.

I strategically placed Deven in the front seat with the door closed so he couldn't get into too much trouble. I heard him fiddling around with the controls on the stereo and dash. About halfway through the process of removing the LATCH straps I decided the car keys in my hand were really slowing me down so I placed them safely under some things on the front passenger seat. At one point I even heard my angelic toddler lock and unlock the doors and thought to myself, I'd better get those keys before I strap Deven in.

Once the carseat was safely secured I proceeded to strap Deven in his carseat to prevent any further mischief, all safe & secure. With the doors all closed to the car I then went to open the driver side door to grab the keys so I could drive closer to where Adam parks so I could call him to get his assistance in folding down the back seat & pushing the large heavy box far enough into the car so the trunk could be closed. Great plan, until I realized that door was locked. I tried the other 3 doors, to my horror they were all locked. I could not believe it, I had locked Deven in the car with the keys! And he was strapped into his seat so I could not even talk him through unlocking the doors!

I decided to untie the salesman's carefully tied twine on the trunk & was able to get the seat folded down but realized there was no way I would be climbing through the trunk myself. Nor would the salesman be willing to do this act of service. A young couple pulled up with in their car with a small baby & I just pretended like everything was normal, no way I was going to offer myself as a "story" for them to tell later. I did what any rational pregnant person would do in this situation. I started to cry as I called my husband who was at work at the mall in that very same parking lot to come out and rescue me and our son. Adam came outside, saw the look on my face and without judgement climbed right through the trunk, waved to Deven & unlocked the car so I could get to the keys. Thank you Adam!

The best part throughout this entire process; the realization, the dramatic breakdown, the weighing of options in my head, the sad appeal to Adam, and awaiting his quick arrival, Deven had N O idea anything was wrong. He simply waited patiently, waved back when I smiled and waved and looked around as people walked by. If I had not been so upset I surely would have taken a picture to capture the expression on his face but since it was not one of my finest parenting moments I opted to not have evidence to remind myself of that sweet little face forever.