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My Worst Mommy Moment
September 9th, 2010 | 
Author: By Michaela, Contributor, Mama Michie’s Musings, (@MamaMichie)
They always tell you it only takes a second for something to happen.
Just.one.second.
I, unfortunately, found this out for myself. Thankfully everything turned out okay, but in my two years of being a mother, it was – and hopefully will remain – my worst mommy moment ever.
We put both of our children to bed at the same time. Every night it’s the same routine… have Noah go on the potty, brush his teeth, night time kisses, and then upstairs. Once we’re up there, I get Abby changed, dressed and put to bed, and then it’s Noah’s turn to head to bed.
Only this time I got Noah ready first and, instead of waiting for me in the bed, he was trying to get my attention.
Which, regretfully, he did.
I turned my back to Abby, who was still lying on the changing table (I know, how could I!!), for one second.
Just.one. second.
She fell to the floor with a thud that made my bones chill, and then she started to scream. I grabbed her right away and gave her a quick once-over while trying to calm her. Then we headed to the ER.
She had stopped crying by the time we got her into the car and was smiling at everyone in the hospital, but we needed to make sure that everything was okay with her. Thankfully, it was.
Knowing that she was OK doesn’t stop me from feeling like a huge failure, though. I’m supposed to protect my kids and I didn’t do that.
So there it is… my worst mommy moment ever. I knew better than to turn my back on her, yet I let myself get distracted. It was an accident and I know that, but it shouldn’t have happened… so I will continue to beat myself up a little longer.
What was your worst parenting moment ever?
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Don’t beat yourself up. Accidents happen.
One day last year when I was picking my kids up from my sisters I fell in her driveway carrying one of my kids. I had healed boots on and my heal caught the edge of the driveway. I did some sort of tuck and roll maneuver so I would take the brunt of the fall. It was horrible. Both of us were sobbing. My son looked ok, but the next morning he had brush burns up one side of the face. I’m pretty sure it was from my sweater and not from hitting the ground.
Needless to say, I no longer wear heals when I’m with my kids.
Erin´s last blog ..Working Mommy Wednesday September 8- 2010
Glad to hear that neither of you was hurt badly! I know what you mean about heels, I quit wearing them when I was pregnant because I just got to be too clumsy.
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
My son was 2 when he broke his arm the first time. (Yep. Please do not call CPS, yet. I’m not even to the bad mommy part!) We were playing with some friends and the little inflatable swimming pool had a “slide” on it – it was maybe 2-3 feet tall, and the kids were LOVING it. He had climbed up to slide again, when he just kind of… rolled off the side. He caught himself as he fell, and then came to tell me about it. (I had seen it happen, we were right there, but, well, at 2, mom can still fix everything!) As he ran across the grass, he tripped and fell, catching himself with the same hand. He cried for a few minutes, but I chalked it up to a slight sprain, no nap, big day, tired boy.
The next day, he still wouldn’t use the arm. Off we went for x-rays, and it was broken. Mother of the Year, my little boy broke his arm, and I didn’t take him to the Dr. until the next day!
(We went right away when he broke it the second time.)
Megan M.´s last blog ..Fighting Mad
Sounds like me when my brother broke his arm while I was babysitting him. He fell on it while playing roller-hockey. It didn’t look broken but it was. At lleast you knew what to look for the second time!!
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
Probably shouldn’t write this out of embarrassment of two adults being idiots: Colin was in the hospital with RSV at 19 months. The day we brought him home, we wanted to give him a bath. My husband was filling the tub, I was getting some stuff. Husband walked out of the bathroom not realizing Colin had walked in. I walk into the bathroom to see Colin fall in the tub! He had sat up by the time I flew across the room. Still I felt so awful.
Sarah´s last blog ..I cant like school
See, that’s what I’m saying… it just takes a second! It’s the scariest second ever, isn’t it? Glad you were in there at just the right time!
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
I actually just wrote a blog post about my worst moment – I locked my 2 month old in the car. It was the worst feeling in the world, but thankfully she got out ok and it wasn’t hot outside.
http://www.thesimplethingsblog.com/2010/08/my-first-mommy-mistake.html
Marcie @ The Simple Things´s last blog ..My First Mommy Mistake
That is a fear that I have… especially when I’m loading the car with groceries. I’m so glad to hear that she was ok and that it wasn’t hot out!
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
In my 22 years of being a mom – there are too many worst mommy moments to mention!!! I even have a worst grandma moment! My 1 year old grandson rolled off my bed (luckily he landed on carpet!!) Six kids later and he STILL rolls off the bed!! Oh yea while I was actually watching him!!! I win!!
Ms Diva´s last blog ..The Season is Over
Those little ones are quick aren’t they? Good news is that he won’t remember it when he’s older!
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
Aw, don’t be so hard on yourself. We’ve all had those moments. We are only human and prone to mistakes.
alicia´s last blog ..Living with an Annoying Man Part 2
Thanks! Some time has passed since it happened and I have come to accept that accidents happen and am extremely happy that she wasn’t hurt. It was very hard at the time though!
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
Glad she’s ok! When my son was teeny tiny I had him set up in the living room on a comforter and I slipped on the wooden floor (I was wearing socks) and fell right on his legs. He was howling! I was so scared and freaked out- went straight to the dr.’s – he was fine, but I was shook up for a long time. That was so scary…
Lisa´s last blog ..Invicta Mens 9937OB Pro Diver Collection Coin-Edge Swiss Automatic Watch updated Wed Sep 1
That would have scared me too! Glad to hear he was okay! (That makes me secretly happy that we have carpet!)
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
Oh boy Mama…it happens to the best of us! I have a couple of them…both equally high on the list 1. forgetting to buckle my first child in his carseat after getting newborn secured in the car (gasp!) 2. Again, my 1st child at 3 yrs old let himself out the front door while putting baby down for a nap. I wrote a post about this and the safety mistakes we make in spite of our best intentions.
Thankfully, I too was lucky and all was well. But, I still feel immense guilt over these situations. So glad your baby is okay. By the way, I have an ER Doc friend who did the exact same thing with her baby (off the changing table). See…it’s pretty universal…just a reminder not to let our guards down. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Melissa (Confessions of a Dr.Mom)´s last blog ..My Fish- My Fish
I’m glad to hear that things ended well for you!
Though I don’t wish any other children harm, I am glad to hear that this has happened to other moms/parents as well. You are so right, it is a reminder not to let our guards down!
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
I do think this does happen to the most of us, some just don’t like to admit it. It scares me any time I think of these moments. So scary. The ‘stomach’ feeling comes back even thinking about them.
Dalia´s last blog ..Ice cream truck allowed in town for one month
My husband is the type who would’t admit it… in fact he is embarrassed that it happened to me/us. You’re right though, something does happen to most off us and it’s nice to know that I’m not alone! After all, accidents happen. As for the “stomach” feeling… it comes back every time I think about that night!
Michaela´s last blog ..Sick Day
I left my 6 month old twins with the guy who checks receipts at BJs b/c it was raining like a monsoon outside and I didn’t want them to get too wet. Seriously? Who does that??? Only one person knows…until now.
Rebecca @ Unexplained X2´s last blog ..Arthroscopic Lateral Release Surgery – Two Weeks In