The New Family

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Kid Corral

RECENTLY, Dad had to corral the kids in another part of the house so Mom could could use the space they normally play in.

With none of their usual toys available, and not wanting to make multiple trips back and forth dragging stuff to and fro, Dad decided to let them freely explore the master bedroom. That was good for about ten minutes. There are lots of dangers in there.

And they want to find all of them.

Dad claims they have an innate radar that leads them directly to the worst danger. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just find the uncovered electrical outlet and stick your moistened finger right into that slot.


Mom eventually checked in and let Dad have a chance to visit the washroom. While minding them, she got creative. Why not put a baby in a basket? Good idea, was Dad's first thought.

A Buggy in a basket.
Liesel thought it was great fun. She used the edge to pull herself to a standing upright position, and then promptly learned that her center of gravity was higher than the top of the basket, and began to tumble forward. Fixed upright, Buggy with basket rotated in unison toward the floor where her face and the carpet were about to have an unwelcome meeting. Dad, nonchalant as ever, sitting nearby in a mid morning's post caffeinated lethargy, anticipated the fall. He reached out to grab the upright edge and act as counter balance. Buggy and basket were both saved from eminent doom. Dad barely mustered a "Hmm" and thought, "Not safe."


The less active of the two, Buddy was content to play with his cloth book without testing the dangers of gravity. Good. Buddy knows G, i.e. objects near Earth's surface accelerate toward it's center at 9.8 m/s² and so he chooses to stay low. Or he may just be lazy, but Dad likes to think the former.

The dangers posed to kids are many. Life is a hazard. A sharp Parent anticipates and then mitigates them. And a physics class taught nearly 20 years ago by Adenuga Atewologun helps foresee them.

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