Sometimes kids go out of their way to hurt themselves. A small kitchen knife was in the sink waiting to be washed with the rest of the breakfast things. I was in the bathroom briefly when I heard screams of “itai~! itai~!” (Ow! Ow!)

This is the last sound you want to hear ever.

I dash into the kitchen to find him with a stool at the sink, the knife now on the counter and blood over his hands.

I grab a wad of tissues to stem the flow and gradually the knot in my stomach untwists when I realize it’s just one cut - and it’s a shallow one. He must have sliced his finger grabbing it out of the sink.

I stop the flow and with the help of chocolate, put on cream and a couple of band aids. One for the actual wound and the others to keep that one on. A few more shouts of ow as he tries to use his finger as normal, and then he’s back to normal.

It means nothing that I’ve said a billion times to him not to touch the knives. Or that I’m careful about keeping them where I thought was out of reach.

After a night of multiple wake ups and meltdowns and now injured fingers though I have been left a shadow of my former self. Naptime is probably too much to hope for, but an early bedtime is definitely the goal. Now I need to finish my shower and I’m considering tying him to the couch.

BTW the stains on his shirt there are chocolate drools not blood!