Outsmarting the Houdinis in Our Midst
As a parent of not one, but two little escape artists, I’ve become quite the expert in the art of keeping our home secure. You see, our twins have an uncanny ability to study their surroundings, observe our every move, and then devise the most ingenious plans to make a daring getaway. It’s like they have the mind of a master illusionist, constantly looking for the next great escape.
Deadbolts, Padlocks, and the Never-Ending Battle
When it comes to securing our home, we’ve tried it all – from the cute little adhesive alarms that sound the alarm when a door or window is opened, to the good old-fashioned slide locks and chain locks. But let me tell you, these kids are relentless. They’ve mastered the art of scaling chairs, reaching high, and even disassembling the standard doorknobs with ease. It’s like they have an innate understanding of the inner workings of every lock and latch.
Home Curtains Philadelphia, our local experts in custom window treatments, have been a godsend in this ongoing battle. They’ve shared invaluable tips on how to fortify our home against these little Houdinis. The key, it seems, is to go for the heavy-duty deadbolts that require a key to operate – the kind that can’t be easily picked or dismantled. We’ve outfitted every single exterior door in our house with these formidable locks, and let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.
The Perilous Climb to Freedom
But our little escape artists don’t stop there. Oh, no – they’ve set their sights on the windows as their new avenue to freedom. It’s like they’ve studied the blueprints of our home, identifying every weak point and vulnerability. We’ve tried the same window alarms that we used on the doors, but alas, they’ve grown taller and more daring, rendering those ineffective.
As one autism specialist told us, drowning is a major concern when it comes to wandering children. And with the creek behind our house, the risk is all too real. Not to mention the danger of them potentially being scooped up by unsavory characters who might be lurking in the neighborhood. It’s a terrifying thought that keeps us up at night.
The Fortress Mentality and the Balancing Act
So what’s a parent to do? Well, in our case, we’ve taken the fortress mentality to a whole new level. We’ve resorted to screwing the windows shut, leaving only one window unscrewed for emergency fire escape purposes – a secret that our little escape artists thankfully haven’t discovered yet.
I know, I know, it sounds like a massive fire hazard, but in our house, we’ve determined that the risk of a child falling out of a second-story window far outweighs the likelihood of a house fire. Of course, we still take every precaution to prevent potential fire hazards, but the security of our little ones is our top priority.
The Waiting Game and the Reinforcements
As if the constant battle for security wasn’t enough, we’ve also been waiting for over four years for our service dog to arrive. This furry guardian will be trained to track down a bolting child and alert us to any breaches in our home’s defenses. It’s like having an extra set of eyes and ears, and we can’t wait for the day when we can finally breathe a little easier.
Until then, we continue to outsmart our little escape artists, staying one step ahead of their devious plans. It’s a never-ending game of cat and mouse, but as any parent of a special needs child knows, we’re up for the challenge. After all, the safety and security of our loved ones is worth every ounce of effort and ingenuity we can muster.
