Locked in the bathroom...by my toddler!

In a previous post I described an incident where we caught Sumayah in the nick of time, getting ready to dish 'juice' from the toilet! I ended sarcastically saying that while we are being very diligent about keeping the toilet doors locked at all times now, she has been practicing and will soon figure out how to turn the key. Well she did... unfortunately, it was when I was in the bathroom, and she was not! Well it was nearly a disaster I tell you.

The holder in the shower that holds all the shampoo and stuff had fallen off and I had just stepped into the shower for a minute to put it back up when Sumayah as usual closed the bathroom door behind me. I opened the door and reprimanded her that she should not play with the doors (especially after out last episode with the bedroom door - see earlier post!), but of course, Sumayah chooses not to listen. I say chooses because believe me she knows when she's doing something she's not supposed to! So anyway, I go back to my very serious task of putting the thingy back in the shower, and again I hear the door close and just as I go to open it again I hear the key turn! And then Silence! So now Sumayah is standing outside the bathroom with the key, and I am inside the bathroom in my pjs (thank goodness!) and obviously no phone to call for help. Can you imagine that phone call... 'Yaasier I need you to drop all your very important work and excuse yourself from any meeting you may be in so you can come home and unlock the bathroom which your 1-year-old has locked me in. Please.'

Fortunately, Abegail had arrived just minutes before I went upstairs, but she was downstairs in the kitchen with taps running and water boiling and I was behind a closed door upstairs and a crying toddler on the other side. And of course the louder I tried calling for Abegail, the louder Sumayah cried (probably out of fear) calling 'mommy, mommy, cake (take) her!'

I realised very quickly that calling for Abegail was going to be fruitless, and while I knew she would eventually come upstairs to discover my little predicament, I needed to figure out a plan to get out NOW! So I calmed down, calmed my voice and tried to comfort Sumayah through the door. So not only am I Supermom who can break down doors, I am also hostage negotiator! I said to Sumayah, 'Sumayah, mommy can't take her 'cos Mayah locked mommy in the bathroom, you need to turn the key my girl... turn the key please Sumayah. Sumayah please can you turn the key then mommy can come out.' There was a moment's silence and then... she turned the key... just like that! I opened the door and there was a very joyous union indeed!