We have locked ourselves out of the house at least 6 times in the past year. Luckily, Chris has always been able to save the day--but this morning he was at work and I found myself in the car wondering why our keyless car wasn't starting when I pressed the button. In denial, I kept pushing the start button while simultaneously pushing the thought out of my mind that I left my keys inside of house that I locked minutes earlier. A sick and sleepy Greta was already to go, strapped in her car seat and we weren't going anywhere...but we couldn't stay in the car all day either. I left Greta strapped in, hoping Chris had accidentally left the back patio door unlocked from grilling last night. Nope. The side door? Also locked. Dang, we're so responsible. I had no other option but to start checking the few windows within my reach. We are a one car family, so calling Chris at work with no option of him coming home to rescue me would do nothing but worry-damage.
Ah-ha! The front window was left un-locked. It was a good 5 feet up, but this was my only way in. I shimmied it open as far as I could, trying to keep a grip on the smooth glass and then wondered how I was going to boost myself up there. My plan became to plant my hands on the sill and jump as high as I could and lock my elbows until I could somehow swing my long legs passed my arms and into the 2 foot opening. What was I thinking?! I am not a gymnast or an athlete. The doubts all became very clear when I couldn't keep my elbows locked for more than 2 seconds and teetered stomach to sill for a moment longer and then went crashing face first into our home with my arms still pinned at my side. My nose took the brunt of it. The blood started gushing and my whole face was burning. I stumbled into the kitchen and grabbed a stack of napkins for my nose and found my keys on the counter. The sight of them made me so mad--at them! This inanimate object I wanted to throw across the room because how could they not have found their own way into my purse. Once I made sure I had my keys in hand, I locked everything up and went back out to the car to call Chris. "I think I just broke my nose." And then the tears started and I could hear Chris getting worried, so I corrected, "I meant to say, we really need to figure out a place for our spare key. " Cue whole story you just read.
So while we may not go for the obvious rock, announcing to the world where we are hiding our spare key is almost as ridiculous as hanging both house keys on the same ring. Let's just count this as a friendly reminder to make sure you have a spare available in case of emergency--there are some great tips here. Not everyone's nose is a resilient as mine. ;)
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My sister and I keyed our houses to the same key so if something like this happens or when we were watching each other's kids we always had a spare or access to what ever we needed. We only wish we'd have done it sooner in life and also included our parents home.
Shut the front door! You poor thing! I'm glad you made it in, but I'm sad it cost you your pretty pretty nose! Hope it heals quick!
Oh gosh, that is so not fun! I've never locked myself out (It is impossible to do) but I am terrified of losing my keys somewhere. I always tether them to my purse and am super neurotic about where they are at all times. I hope the swelling goes down!!
Hi Julia,
Is your nose ok? Did you really break it?
I like the idea of the key rock I may buy it!
I don't think I broke it...although I didn't get it checked out or anything. Right now it is pretty swollen and I took some pain relievers to help.
It only felt natural calling him "the bob." doesn't it kind of look like a bob???
omgggg i hope you are okay!!! i can't believe you hurt yourself so badly...although who knows it i would have even been able to get myself up to the window...kudos for you on that! this does remind me that we need to have a back-up somewhere....
Smart!
That is why our houses since have always had deadbolt styles locks. You can't lock them outside withOUT the key so you can't accidentally do it. Knowing me, I would totally forget!
Hope your nose isn't broken!
Oh yeah, luckily Greta was so delirious from no sleep that she didn't notice I was in such a mess.
That whole situation just sounds horrible. I hope you're doing okay now! And hopefully Miss Greta was none the wiser during the whole thing. I bet nothing makes a situation worse than it upsetting your child too (you know, mom looks hurt, something must not be right)!
omg did you really break your nose?!
Kwikset makes a lock set called "SmartKey" that comes with this metal re-keying device. You stick it in and turn it, then insert whatever key you want to use for the lock from then on. So if you lose your keys, or someone steals them, you can use any key you want to reset the lock. I keep a spare "blank" key (blank as in it doesn't work on any lock now) and the keying device in my glovebox in case I ever find myself in a similar situation! Although I never locked myself out the house (but I have locked myself out of my running car :D ), I constantly lose keys so I'm so happy they make this stuff.
Our home was broken into the Wednesday right before Easter and we changed all our exterior locks as a precaution. I saw them on Katie Bower's blog, I highly reccommend.
We actually have the Kwikset locks, too! They are great!! ... Unfortunately, they aren't smart enough to tell me I forgot my key. hahaha!
Noooooooo!!!!!! Is your nose really broken??? Holy cow that story kept me on my toes! I guess the positive? You're 6 feet tall and you were able to climb into that window! Iwould have just sat in my car and cried until 5pm hahahahaaa I'm pathetic.
My parents have a keyless car, and she just keeps the "bob" in her purse, hidden of course, but on it is a house key. She doesn't even have to think about gabbing a car key. But, they also use their garage door as the main entry. Could you not go through the garage?? Maybe that is a good alternate too.
Hope your nose, and Greta are doing better today!!!
Is it really called a "bob"?? Funny. Our garage door opener's battery wore out and was zero help today. Just my luck, right?!
P.s. I don't think my nose is broken--but it sure hurts!
Oh man! I hope you didnt actually break your nose! I'm sure I would have locked myself out of the house many times if we didn't have our new door handle instead of a knob! The only part of the door that locks is the deadbolt so I've walked out many times and went to lock the door and realized that I didn't have my keys.
my Mom actually has the key rock and it works well for her (so well, in fact, when I once forgot my keys, I couldn't find the rock b/c it was buried under a pile of leaves). We have the a keypad door lock and it works well for us BUT I can't even count the number of times I've locked myself out of the car. It's quite embarassing.
Oh man! Haven't done that one yet (I don't drive very much) but I can imagine it being frustrating!!
I locked myself out of the house without my keys (but with my puppy) about three times and I couldn't get in the car. Luckily I have my phone all three times. Once my husband couldn't come home so my dad came and picked me up and we hung out. Glad none of those times were in the rain.
I saw a thing (probably on pinterest) where someone glued a prescription bottle or something similar (waterproof) to the bottom of a real rock, then stuck it in the ground. I think that would be more secure than a fake rock. You could also glue it to a flowerpot or something.
We've moved to an apartment and it has the deadbolt - so you can't lock yourself out without your keys - and I'm thinking of getting that sort of lock on our future house.