With all of the time we spend telling our kids what not to do and watching out for the dangers that lurk all around us it’s impossible to remember everything and would be exhausting if we tried. There aren’t enough hours in the day to discuss every outside threat so we make some assumptions and hope for the best.

I told Chloe to look both ways before crossing the street but apparently I forgot to tell her not to empty all of the Kleenex boxes so she could jam her feet into them and use them to ski down the hall.

I told the kids they were always welcome to help me fold the laundry but neglected to mention they were not permitted to use the empty basket as a sled on the stairs.

I told the kids to wash their hands with soap and warm water before and after eating but it must have slipped my mind to tell them never to lick a hotel remote.

I told them to hold onto the escalator (or “alligator”) and watch that loose clothing doesn’t get caught in the moving rails but do you think I remembered to specifically state, “Don’t throw Mommy’s car keys in the water fountain?”

I have told them about the dangers of sticking your tongue to a telephone pole but left out the part that if you hang out in a bush full of burs and stick them all over your little sister’s head, we might have to shave all of her hair.

I tell them not to run with scissors but did not tell them they shouldn’t run with open shampoo bottles—floor facing.

Do put the wooden leaves in the dining room table to extend the length. Don’t put leaves on the dining room table.

I am to blame for all of the above, when Hanna was hiding in the bathroom the other night running her hand under cold water, Ellie came to ask for some ice.

“What happened?” I ran down the hall.

Hanna had been given a new lamp for her night stand, a metal one perfect for reading, to add to her other collection of headband light, book light, clip on light, pen light.

She was moving the lamp to the optimal position and touched the top where the bulb had been heating up the metal.

There was no sign of a serious burn and luckily no blister but it taught us all a lesson.

We try to remember to warn our kids about potential threats, we trust that they’ll make good decisions and we assume they’ll apply the same logic to other aspects of their lives.

As parents, we’re all learning as we go.

I have added, “Don’t touch a metal lamp” to my list of warnings to my kids. I just hope I remember to include, “Please don’t scratch your names in the door with the rough edge of a twig.”

I see I’m too late.