Recently I have been having these terrible thoughts about what would happen to Thomas and Caroline if something were to happen to Liz and/or I that would leave them home alone. Thomas is deeply compassionate and he would make ever effort to take care of his sister and his dead or injured parents. The visions I have of him trying so hard to help his sister while not knowing what he needed to do to get real help give me genuine pain. I can see him getting food for his sister and himself;and using a chair to reach the sink for water. Trying to get Caroline out of her crib. Trying to get her into clean clothes. Trying to wake his mommy or daddy. It make me want to vomit.
I mentioned this to Liz. She looked at me and said very matter of factly, “well maybe you should teach him how to call 911.”
Well, duh.
So I put it on my list of things that never get done. Then I did nothing. I kept having the visions though.
I’d like to say that my lack of action was because I didn’t want to have to describe to Thomas why this was something he needed to learn; that I didn’t want to intrude on his innocence. But that’s a crock of shit. His innocence actaually kind of annoys me. The truth is, I’m lazy.
But then the other day something happened to someone I know that freaked the living shit out of me. It was a nightmare come true for this person. Luckily most parts of it were temporary. The worst parts at least.
So now I’m doing something about it. Yesterday I purchased a children’s book that teaches kids how to call 911. It arrives on Friday.
