The Firefighters Will Spray Me, Mom!

Honestly, I thought Leawood's bravest would be summoned to our house a lot sooner - somehow, we managed to wait until July.

Our carbon monoxide alarm went off & apparently the gas company sends the fire department.

At the very least, I thought this would be exciting for my kids.

"Look, Ainsley! The fire fighters are in front of our house. Look at the big fire engine!"

"Nooooooo, MOOOOOMMMMYY!" she screamed, clinging to me. "I don't want them to spray me!!!!!!!!"

"They are not here to spray you! Calm down, it's ok! You don't have to look at the fire truck. It's ok!"

What kid is afraid of a fire truck? Apparently

mine. Mine is very afraid.

"Ma'am, how can we get into the house?" Mr. Firefighter in charge asks.

"You can go through the garage."

"Ma'am, we just tried that. That door is locked, ma'am."

Seriously? One week after I lock Max in the car, another door locks on me? I am not "blaming" anyone, but I think a certain 3-year-old locked us out.

Why must door-locking drama follow me everywhere I go? Good lord!

So the firefighters spend 15 minutes breaking my door open, only to tell me that I need a new battery for my carbon monoxide detector. Awesome - just a new battery. (And yes, I am glad my house didn't blow up.)

"Ma'am, opening locked doors is good practice for us. Just your taxes at work. Do you have a new 9 volt battery, Ma'am?" Mr. Firefighter asks with a smile.

Ok, 1.) Enough with the "ma'am" stuff. I'm possibly 2 years older than you & just because I made my 19-year-old babysitter stay to watch this whole debacle go down does not mean you have to "ma'am" me; and,

2.) You really think I have a new 9 volt battery hanging around? I have enough diapers, food, clothes, AA & AAA batteries to make my house run but no, I cannot produce a 9 volt battery out of thin air right now, sir. I moved in 3 months ago which, for a normal person, is a long time ago, but for me, is like last week.

So Mr. Firefighter produced a new battery from his stash, set aside for crazy Leawood moms who will probably forget to replace the 9 volt.

I'm only slightly humiliated after this experience because I know we will be repeat customers with the fire department.

I almost burned our house down last week when one of Ainsley's silly bands (google it, mom) got stuck to a burner. Fun times.