Queensland was a long drive but it was here that the family
settled in 1965. John took on a new position at Comet Windmills after being
dismissed from Reynold Chains in Victoria. It was time for a new start.
One day after putting Paul down for his midday nap Judy went
out to the shops leaving John in charge. Returning home, she parked the car in
front of the open carport. As she got out of the car she looked up to see her
baby boy leaning precariously out of the bedroom window. He held his bottle in one hand and waved with
the other. Milk dripped onto the car roof below. Oblivious to the danger he
smiled delightedly.
Judy recalls keeping Paul in conversation as she moved
carefully and slowly up the front stairs trying not to show too much alarm as
her heart raced. Containing her panic, she made her way to his room. She
chatted constantly with him, in an even voice willing him not to lean any
further out the window. As soon as she was close enough, she put her arms
around his chest and pulled him off the window sill. The relief that followed was almost
overwhelming.
Sepia Saturday: Using Old Images As Prompt for New
Reflections – Prompt 523
That would have been a heart stopping moment for Judy. What a change of location too.
ReplyDeleteHeart stopping moments make memories a bit more permenant, we seem to remember them a bit better than mumdane everyday life
DeleteWhew, that was scary. I remember as a kid wondering what it would be like to climb out our 2nd story bedroom window onto the porch roof for a view. Never tried it though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would have been breathing at that initial sight of my baby hanging out an open window! When I was older the lower edge of my bdrm window sat only 6" off the roof. I never thought to climb out there just for fun, but with cause, I was scared of fire and it was a relief to know I could climb out there and slide down to where I could jump off without too much injury if I had to!
ReplyDeleteJudy was so impressive in keeping her head and keeping calm, when so many of us would have panicked , raced up the stairs, and shouted at Paul.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it was her nurse training that enable her to keep her cool. I think she was so reliefed to have saved Paul I'm not sure she would have shouted at him, I'm sure John wasn't so lucky however.
DeleteHi Sandra - Wow! You told that story so well. I had my heart in my mouth. But smiling too at Paul's delight at seeing his mother and waving the bottle at her. Hilarious! Dear Lord. Being a mother is so hard isn't it? I do wonder that mine lived to be adults when I look back. And moving to Queensland is a shock to the system. I remember my mother in law advising me not to wear a girdle (not that I ever did). She also advised me not to wear stockings and to slow down. It took me years to do just that. Slow down. (I'm very self conscious about my pale white legs so still wear stockings if I have to expose them to all and sundry; normally I just try to wear pants all the time to cover them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment. I sometimes think we survive our parents and at other times I think I survive inspire of our children - it's the space between the generations that causes so much friction and similtaneously so much reward. It's hard but also rewarding.
DeleteWow, what a story! Thank goodness it ended without mishap. Here in New York City, apartment dwellers by law are provided with window guards free of charge if they have youngsters living in or visiting their home. Tragic accidents in the past resulted in this law, which has saved the lives of many toddlers as curious a Paul.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I wonder if the building regulations have changed and made building design safer for children in Queensland now. I know in Victoria if you build a house now you have to put in safety glass. Interesting.
DeleteWow!. But for the blink of an eye, this story could have turned out tragically different. Where was John while all this drama was unfolding? I'm glad Judy was able to save the day...and Paul!
ReplyDeleteJohn was probably distracted, but in all fairness some young children can be like monkeys and they move so fast. One moment things are all tranquil then in the blink of eye everything has becomes topsy turvy. He probably thought he was still asleep.
DeleteWhat an interesting and dramatic story! Our windows usually have screens, which can be easily pushed out by the weight of a child, so shouldn't be considered security devices.
ReplyDeleteWow - I don't think I could have remained that calm.
ReplyDelete