When we sold the house in Oakland, Anna Grace was a toddler, barely walking.  I thought at that time that I had great difficulty keeping her things cleaned up, etc.  I had no idea what "difficulty" really was.  Since putting the house on the market I have had many adventures with Anna Grace, her toys, and trying to get the house ready to show.

For example….

Once got the house all cleaned up, got myself dressed, and (thankfully) decided to take one last look at the house before leaving.  I found seven of Anna Grace’s dolls all tucked in up to their necks in our bed.  (It looked a bit eerie… just seven doll heads staring at you).  The bed hadn’t been in that condition just five minutes earlier.

Anna Grace discovered how to get a chair, push it over to the cabinet, scale chair and cabinet to obtain her paint and figured out how to open her paints…. all within 10 minutes of a family coming to see the house.

I get Anna Grace dressed, myself dressed and we’re ready to go.  We’ve got five minutes to be out of this house before another real estate agent shows up.  I see a flesh colored blur go down the hall but I pay no attention.  In my heart of hearts, however, something told me that things just weren’t right and I should check to see what AG was up to.  I holler out to Anna Grace that it is time to go and I’m met at the back door by this child. This absolutely, 100% butt naked child who has left clothes and diaper strewn across my clean house.

These are all just examples of what happens when you’re selling your house and you’re home alone with a small child. 

None of those, however, compare to today.

I was getting a package ready to ship out and Anna Grace had pushed her chair up to the sink and asked if she could play in the water.  She often does this with no problems, just a small mess.  So, since I needed a few minutes to think and pack this box, I said yes.  I, in a moment of great wisdom, allowed a water faucet to babysit my daughter.

I pack the box and then head into the kitchen to get AG moving on to a new activity.  As I enter the kitchen my feet begin to splash.  There is close to a half inch of water on my kitchen floor, all over the counter tops and she found the stash of dish towels that she has now soaked.  Just as I register what has happened, the phone rings.  Real esate agent and potential buyer will be at the house in 40 minutes.  Just. Kill. Me.

I raced, and I raced and I raced.  I didn’t fuss at AG. Afterall, her playing in the water was my brilliant idea.  I tried to remain the developmentally appropriate parent, the  understanding parent, etc.  However, as AG began to get more and more toys out, toss her books around, etc all before I ever got the kitchen cleaned up…. I became stark raving lunatic parent. It wasn’t pretty.

We made it out of the house just as real estate agent was driving up the street.

The moral of this story?  Well, choose whichever you’d like.

A.  Water faucets do not make good baby sitters.
B.  Never, ever, try to sell your house until all residents of the home are at least 10 years of age.
C.  The yarn will never rebel against you but you can bet that your preschooler will.
D.  All of the above.