Learning Pains

One of the only places in our apartment that is strictly off limits to Calder is the gas fireplace in our living room.  No, we never have it on while he is awake, but it does have a pilot light, and a really inefficient cover.  So naturally, since I always make a great effort to keep him away, it is the place he wants to go the most.

Some days Calder does really well about not going over by it at all.  And on those days, I feel so proud of him, thinking that he's learned to stay away from it.  And then there are days like today.  I spent all day trying to keep him away from it.

After lunch, I pulled him out of his high chair, cleaned him off, set him down so he could go play, and began putting food away.  And then I looked up to check on him.  Sure enough, he found the pilot light. And right as I got to him, his little finger found out that the pretty little blue flame isn't very fun, or nice. At all.  

I cried a little with him as I put his hand under cold water, and then I cried some more when I told Craig about it.  The top of his pointer finger is blistered. 

The opportunity we have to be parents in this lifetime is amazing.  It is hard, but so rewarding, and I learn so much just from day to day events.  Like the one today, for example.  Hopefully now Calder will remember not to go by the fireplace, because now he knows what will happen.  And that it hurts.  Hopefully it is a lesson that he will not have to learn a second time.  It just reminded me of all the lessons that I have to learn, several times over again.  Hopefully my little boy and I can both be smart, and remember so we will not have to re-learn too many lessons.