Closed Door Policy

I have recently found myself forgetting the "Closed Door Policy" that is a requirement when living with a one year old. The policy that states that all doors in ones home must be kept closed at all times. Abiding by this policy is beneficial for keeping little fingers out of light sockets, or having the contents of cabinets or drawers strewn about the room. Countless accidents and messes have been averted by strictly adhering to this policy.

It is usually towards the end of the day, when I am straightening up the house, that I become the most careless when it comes to closing doors. It is so much easier, when quickly moving from one room to another, to not have to open and close the door each time. Today I got a quick refresher why it is a must.

Usually when Autumn is playing with her toys, chasing the dogs, watching television, following me around, actually if Autumn is doing anything, she is making noise. It is not the noises that catch my attention, it is when there is silence. If there is silence that means that Autumn has tip-toed her way through a door that should have been closed and I am going to have a surprise waiting for me when I find her.

That is exactly what happened tonight.

In the midst of my rushing and straightening I stop, realizing that I have not heard the normal words or baby babbles coming from Autumn. This cannot be good. I begin back tracking. What was the last door that I left open? Then I remember, I went into the bathroom to re-stock the toilet paper. Oh no, the toilet paper. Autumn is drawn to a roll of toilet paper like a moth to a flame. I know immediately what I am going to find as I walk towards the open bathroom door.

There she is, sitting on the floor in all her glory. Her handiwork surrounding her. She had just about unrolled the entire roll when I found her. Autumn, one. "Closed Door Policy", zero.