American in Spain

Aft Thrusters. Engage!

April 14, 2010
Trouble On Wheels

The volume of space in our house defined by the phrase "out of reach of children" is shrinking quickly. While still a couple months from walking on her own, I believe, Nora has greatly improved her in-walker mobility. She can now move forward, backward, and turn with ease. The result is that she can get to just about anywhere where we don't have a rug, and reach most things in the bottom ninety centimeters of the house. This includes many drawers and cabinets. Yesterday she was with me in the kitchen as I was doing the dishes. She watched intently as I opened a drawer to put a utensil in. Two seconds later she had her hand on the handle and was opening the drawer, pulling things out. We need to install some safety latches, stat! We bought drawer latches the other day, and the woman who sold them to us told us that it was absolutely paramount that the child never sees how to operate the latch, otherwise they're useless.

Observant viewers will notice that in the days between the first and last clips, I removed and stored the tablecloth and rug that was under the table for an indeterminate number of years.

Trouble On Wheels

"Just looking to see what was in the cupboard, Dad!"

Trouble On Wheels

"Ooh, kitchen towels!"

Trouble On Wheels

Taking things out of drawers.

While I was watching her before and after taking these pictures, once she was trying to reach further into a drawer, and to get closer, she pushed her walker closer to the drawer, which in turn pushed the drawer closed on her hand. It wasn't very hard, but it was enough for her to withdraw her hand and inspect it carefully for damage without crying.