It was just another ordinary Friday night. I returned home from work to find my husband, Mike, a stay-at-home dad, looking completely drained from a day of chasing our energetic toddler, Liam. As soon as I unloaded the groceries from my car, he announced that he was ready to clock out and take a much-needed nap.
Being the supermom that I am, I had already anticipated this moment and picked up a rotisserie chicken from Costco, despite Mike’s constant reminders that they aren’t organic. But honestly, who cares? Tonight, we feast on chicken that’s probably loaded with antibiotics and hormones!
I served our dinner, rocking my Wonder Woman pajama pants, while Liam devoured his Costco chicken, a buttery croissant, and a Costco organic Fuji apple. Meanwhile, I noticed a pile of packages on the kitchen table that I had forgotten about. Oh right, the picture frames for the school photos! I’ll just frame the pictures while he eats. What an incredible multitasker I am! This totally makes up for serving him that chemically-laden chicken.
With my husband snoozing away, Liam was busy shoving food into his mouth as I wrestled with the frames from an online order. Then, nature called. I quickly moved Liam’s plate out of his reach, asking him to chew and swallow his food to prevent any choking incidents while I dashed to the bathroom. Yup, I call it “dashing” because that’s what supermoms do!
In less than two minutes—just a quick pee and a hand wash—I returned to the dining area to find my sweet toddler surrounded by the remnants of the picture frame boxes. How on earth did he reach those?
He was holding something out to me, and I initially thought it was just a piece of cardboard. As I leaned down to take it from him, he cheerfully announced, “I ate it.” That’s when I noticed: he was offering me one of those silica gel packets that scream “DO NOT EAT” all over the front!
I quickly snatched it from his hand, checking for moisture. It was dry—thank the heavens! But then he repeated, “Yes, I ate it.” My heart dropped as I spotted the empty packet lying on the table, the corner missing and some beads rolling around. I’m not sure what happened to my body at that moment, but I think adrenaline surged through me like a freight train. I screamed for Mike and started searching Liam’s mouth for any stray pellets while frantically unbuckling him from his booster seat.
After a second loud shout for Mike, who was blissfully unaware thanks to his earplugs, I burst into the bedroom, turned on the lights, and demanded that he wake up immediately. I tossed Liam onto the bed, quickly filled Mike in on the situation, and then fumbled around for my phone. Finding it was a no-go, so I grabbed Mike’s instead. Thank goodness he’s always prepared; Poison Control was already in his contacts.
Unlike calling 911 in our area, Poison Control picked up right away. A calm, friendly voice answered, “Poison Control,” and I blurted, “My toddler ate a silica gel packet!” While my mind raced through a list of all the wrongs I’ve ever done in my life, she reassured me, “This is actually a common call. He’s fine, I promise.”
She explained that the warning on the packet is there because it poses a choking hazard, not because the beads are toxic. As long as he’s breathing normally and isn’t in distress, he’s totally okay. After taking some basic info, she wrapped up our call.
By this time, Mike had entered the room, clearly sensing that everything was under control. I relayed the good news, then placed his phone on the counter and promptly burst into tears—full-on ugly crying, snot and all. I definitely didn’t earn those Wonder Woman pajamas.
To top it all off, little Liam had started picking the beads off the floor and munching on them. We quickly cleared his mouth and took him out of the room while we cleaned up, and I cried some more. He could have been in serious danger!
Mike pulled me aside to comfort me, saying, “He was never in danger. He’s fine. I’m just going to do the laundry. Try not to harm him while I’m busy.”
And just like that, it was another typical Friday night. Reflecting on it all, I realize I’ve navigated many of these chaotic moments, and maybe I really do deserve those Wonder Woman pajamas after all.
But seriously, those silica gel packets? No, thank you!
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Summary
In this humorous tale, a typical Friday evening transforms into a mini-crisis when a toddler discovers silica gel packets. The author navigates the chaos, ultimately finding reassurance and humor amidst the panic while reminding us all to be cautious of those seemingly harmless packets.