The fall of the high and mighty

I thought I was the bestest mom around.

I was enclosed in my own egotism. I thought nobody can take best care of my baby other than the high and mighty ME. I learned the lesson the hardest way and in the form of a burn on my baby's palm. Yeah I know. You can crucify me now.

We (EJ and me) were in my cousin's room this morning. EJ likes to go inside their room because he likes to explore things which are not found in our's. He especially adores winnie the pooh and froggy frog. When asked to hug winnie and froggy he'd willingly oblige. And so while EJ plays around, pokes and touches anything he can get his hands on, my cousin and I were busy chatting. Of course my eyes were on my baby. But I just realized that one cannot multitask with a toddler in tow. I should have known! And so he goes to a corner and played with the laptop for a while. I told him not to touch it. Being an obedient baby that he is, he let it go and touched the iron lying on the floor instead. Memory escapes me that the iron was just recently used by my cousin. It only dawned on me when EJ let out a big cry!!! I immediately pulled him up and rushed to the toilet and put his hands on the running water. But the damage has been done and he was wailing and bawling like a maniac! I didn't know what to do. At that moment I wanted to physically hurt myself to avenge EJ's pain. I cried but no tears came out. Oh, it was agony!

EJ has blisters on his sweet little fingers now. Everytime I see it, I can't help but cry (now with tears). My baby had to take the bullet for his mommy's stupidity. What a f***ing idiot I was/am.
This is one of those moments that have already been indelibly inked in my memory. I can only hope it hasn't been etched in his.

Lesson reinforced: Give 100% attention to your toddler.