Detectors

Last week we got new CO detectors for our house. Avery is terrified of detectors, any kind of detector.

We have smoke detectors in what seems like every room in our house. When the one in his room started beeping because it needed a new battery he demanded it be taken down immediately, otherwise he refused to go in his room, period.

So, when he realized that the new CO detector outside his room beeps like a smoke detector he made me take it down.

Last night Kevin was away and sometimes when he is gone I let Avery sleep with me upstairs. Just as we snuggled in our bed to read books he noticed the CO detector on the wall. After many tears, we decided to go back to his room to sleep, where there are no detectors.

When we got into his bed I tried to explain to Avery how the detectors work and how they can help us.

Mommy: Avery, detectors are our friends. They tell us when something is wrong and we need to get out of the house.

Avery: No there not, they are not are friends. They are very bad and they are very loud. When the start to beep I go like this (hands over ears).

Mommy: You know what, they are sort of like fire trucks. When we see a fire truck going down the street without its lights and sirens on we know everything is okay. But when we hear a fire truck's siren and see its lights flashing we know that something is wrong and someone needs help. If we don't hear the detectors then we know everything is okay. But if we hear them beeping then we know something is wrong and we have to get out of the house.

Avery: Yeah, when that starts beeping the fire truck will start is siren and then it will come to our house and the firemen will crash in the windows and starting spraying with their hoses, PPPPSSHHHH!!!! And Dot the fire dog and the firemen will come in the house to save us.

At that point I realized we have been reading way too many stories about fire trucks.