Going to the shops.

Today Addie learned how to unlatch the gate. I discovered this in a not too pleasant way this morning. Addie was playing out the front pushing her pram around and carrying her handbag, stopping every so often to pick leaves or other things and put them in her bag. Both gates were latched and I tied a rope around the one that opens when you jiggle it, and double checked the other, then went inside to feed Tiny who was due for a feed and nap.

Having fed and settled Tiny, I was just going outside to see what Addie was up to when I heard a knock on the front of the house, where an elderly man was asking "is this your little girl?" he was pointing down the road to an indignantly bawling Addie, pushing her pram up the street to our house, accompanied by an older lady. Addie wasn't scared-crying, she was angry crying, and I was relieved, embarrassed that she'd been able to get out and definitely grateful that she was ok.

I went and picked Addie up and asked her what was wrong, and she tearfully said "bye, shops" and kept repeating shops. So from what I can gather from her rescuers, she had undone the gate latch, crossed the nature strip and was walking down the middle of the road to the shops with her pram and bag.

I was scared because I know about strangers, cars, all those dangers, but can you imagine how exciting it must have been for her to set out for the shops and get so far, I can see the look of purpose that would have been on her face, and She was probably chattering "bye mum, bye bye Tiny, see you in the morning" and the dissapointment when the lady brought her back - I heard that bit. Poor girly.

Clearly our gate needs something more secure to latch it, and somehow Addie needs to be a little less independent, while I need to be more watchful.