This afternoon, when I got home after picking Molly up from school, we were standing in the driveway talking to the neighbors. Molly was being super-sweet, hanging out on my hip and resting her head on my shoulder. After a few minutes, she saw the house key in my hand and started playing with it. I realized she was pressing the buttons on the key fob that goes with our alarm system and I told her I needed the keys back. I jokingly said to my neighbors, “The alarm is probably going off now!”
Fast forward three minutes. We’re in the house, the alarm is NOT going off, and I’m getting Molly ready for her nap. I immediately forgot about the key incident.
I was coming out of Molly’s room, having just put her down for her nap, and there’s a loud banging at the door and a police officer busts open the door with a huge, heavy flashlight in his hand. “Police!” he yells.
I pretty much peed in my pants at that point. He walks right in, starts looking around the house and asks who I am. I tell him my name and state that I live here. He gives me a once-over and asks if I’m ok. I say, tentatively, “Yes.” He then tells me that the panic alarm was pressed and I sort of laugh…”My daughter was just playing with my key fob and I was worried she would set off the alarm. I guess she did!”
The police officer, on the other hand, was not laughing and proceeded to lecture me about how security alarms are not toys and I should not let my toddler play with the key fob. Although I realize this, I also wonder how calculated Molly’s pressing of the buttons was. I mean, really, it’s not like I said, “Here, honey, play with the key fob and press these two buttons AT THE SAME TIME. It’ll be funny to see what happens!”
I wanted to ask him, “Do you have a toddler? Have you ever tried to squeak out 30 more seconds of a conversation by shoving the nearest shiny object in her hands? It was just a key; it didn’t occur to me that she would call 911 for us!” But I didn’t. I was polite and said, “Yes, sir, I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience but I do appreciate your speedy response.”
Oh, Molly, I sure hope today wasn’t an indication of any future run-ins with law enforcement.
This might very well be the FUNNIEST thing I have ever read!
Glad we can make you laugh, Christine! 😉 I didn’t think it was very funny at the time, but a few hours later, I’m able to laugh. Kind of.
HAHA! That’s great. I can see that happening to me. Especially since a few months ago, my kid managed to call 9-1-1. Luckily the folks who called back were a little nicer than the police officer who showed up at your house.
That is hysterical! I would have freaked seeing a police officer in my house. YIKES! Obvioulsy, he does not have kids or he would not have made such a redic comment.
I just peed my pants for you — holy crap. That story will be hard to beat!!