Three years ago, Mr. Andi, with the help of a neighbor, built our backyard fence. Back then, he was in a race against time before Nathan started walking (which would lead to escaping).
We opted for a wooden picket fence because we had grown used to the vast expanse across our yard and our back-door neighbors’ and didn’t want to obstruct that view. We live on a corner lot along the main artery of our subdivision and were loathe to cocoon ourselves behind a six foot privacy fence.
When Nathan got a little bigger (i.e., turned four back in March), Mr. Andi boldly declared, “When the weather is nice, you can just open the door and let him run free. How great will that be?”
Famous last words.
Spring was consumed with Sarah Kate’s surgery and recovery, and summer along the gulf coast is ridiculously hot and humid, but fall – FALL! – is glorious because the temperatures are marvelous, the humidity is gone, and we can still run around without a jacket (and in shorts most days). The Go Outside Bug has bitten Nathan, so at long last I’ve decided to “just open the door and let him run free.”
Here’s how that’s gone down:
- He destroyed a tiki torch, and by destroyed I mean beat-it-into-oblivion-and-poured-the-oil-all-over-his-school-clothes.
- On more than one occasion, he has raced outside (without permission) and over to the fence to watch the passersby – in a shirt and nothing else. I don’t know if his junk has been exposed through the pickets, but I can guess.
- He decided he needed some milk and brought the whole almost-full gallon jug outside, then poured it all over the upholstered patio furniture and outdoor rug. (Side note: have tips for cleaning milk out of patio cushions? I’m all ears.)
- He continues to throw the practice softballs (and the bat) over the fence with great regularity.
- He digs in the dirt. A lot. Which is fine by itself, but bringing the soil from the raised bed garden inside? Not fine.
Let me stipulate that these things have all happened when I went inside to use the bathroom, refresh my tea glass, answer the phone, or {fill in the blank other task that takes less than two minutes and keeps Nathan within earshot}.
It is amazing what little ones can get into and how quickly, isn’t it? At least you are keeping your sense of humor!
I love that kid. I read this out loud to my coworkers.
Sounds like my son 🙂 One of my neighbors asked if my children EVER wear clothes.
Ok….,I laughed REALLY hard at this post!!
The oil, the milk, the dirt…. Oh my! Sounds like someone my daughter would like to be friends with 😉