Multi-tasking. You've done it. I've done it. But it seems the one trick every parent has employed to actually get things done is responsible for the latest "baby in washing machine" horror story.
The 5-month-old's dad was trying to do laundry and change his son's diaper at the same time, and somehow the little guy ended up IN the family's washer. The worst part? It was just beginning to fill with hot water -- 150-degree water no less -- and his tiny body was covered in vicious burns.
How does something so awful happen?
Easy. Dad turned his back. For a second the authorities say -- they're treating the baby's fall into the washing machine as an accident, and they say there are no signs of abuse.
I've done it. You've done it. Most of us just got lucky.
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I wasn't in that New Hampshire home. But I can picture how it all went down. Here this guy was, trying to get things done around the house, and his little guy made a stinker. He doesn't want to leave him to sit in his own poop, but the washer is filling. So what does he do? He grabs the kid and starts changing his diaper, right next to the open washing machine. He turns to grab something and ... oh. My. God.
I'm not going to pick on this poor father. He's already kicking himself, I'm sure.
But as this little guy gets treatment in a Boston hospital, his story can help the rest of us. We can't stop multi-tasking as parents. If we did, my house would look like an actual warzone (not that "street the day after a parade" is much better, but we're working on it!), and no one would actually eat a meal in this place.
What we can do is slow the heck down. Don't get so caught up in what has to be done that we stop thinking about "how" to do it. True emergencies in life are -- thankfully -- few and far between. Really. It may feel like it all has to be done this very second, but those towels will not get up and walk off in a huff if you don't scoop them from the bathroom floor in the next five seconds. That phone call can wait -- if they don't leave a message on the machine, they obviously didn't want to talk to you THAT badly.
Just think -- if you don't chill out, that could be YOUR little one inside the washing machine next.
What's gone wrong in just a few seconds in your house?
Image via Andrew Kelsall, Graphic Designer/Flickr
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Comments 56
I can't imagine the logistics of how this happened... was he changing him on top of the dryer or something? Not blaming him, it's just... really odd.
Anyway, I've had way too many things happen that were freak accidents. Take, for example, shopping with my son when he was like, 4, and I picked up a 12 pack of soda. The end of the box came open and the sodas fell out ON MY SON'S HEAD, LOL. Sounds funny, but they hurt him. Two store employees saw it and ran over, REALLY paranoid because obviously I could have sued. He was fine though, but had some bruises that sucked.
And let's not get into my calls to Poison Control or Aurora's forehead stitches or the butcher knife incident...
Poor baby! I hope he'll be ok...And let me just say I'm truely glad to hear a story of a Father actually trying to do housework AND take care of his kid (Im not saying they're not capable, you just dont see it much lol). Im pretty sure he was stressed and really only turned his back for a minute. I was changing my daughter on our couch when she was a baby and by the time I reached back to grab her diaper ointment there she was plummeting to the floor. It happens to everyone in some degree at some point or another.
I just want to tell the dad to forgive himself and move on. This is something that you will remember forever but don't let it take away from future beautiful moments with your child.
I'm an over protective parent, this would never happen, i would have closed the lid before turning my back with a hand on my child but accidents do happen and not everybody thinks 10 steps ahead before doing things like i do & im not going to say i'm not foulable, im sure one day something will happen that i could have prevented but so far with 3 kids and no accidents ive counted myself lucky. My dad is a great example on how accidents happen. My father put me on a changing table, i was roughly 8 or 9 months, and he turned his back to grab a diaper, at which time i got up & crawled off of the table onto my head.
I'll say it again: more accidents happen to kids while in their fathers' care... sad but true.
I am not blaming or bashing the dad, but what kind of washer was he using? I mean, dont washers nowadays have those mechanisms where the door or lid has to be closed in order for it to start filling up? I know mine does. I thought all of them did as a safety precaution.