I may have almost had a heart attack.

And I may also be prone to a little over exaggeration – but there are few things that terrorise me more than thinking Love Bug and I aren’t safe in the car. While I’m sure all parents feel like this, losing your daddy at 16 in a car accident makes you that much more paranoid. I know.

So imagine my horror when I was driving down a very busy road yesterday morning, in the middle lane – with a bus lane filled with buses beside us – and I heard a clicking sound followed by Uh oh, only to look in the rear view mirror and see her car seat undone. I yelled No! (probably a little too loudly) and threw my arm back to hold her in until I could manoeuvre from the middle lane through the buses and into a side street.

All the while begging our Guardian Angel not to let there be any idiots on the road this morning who may run into us.

By the time I got into the side street, put the hazard lights on and flew around to Bubba’s door she was hysterical. And my heart was in my throat. I bit back tears and pulled her into my arms, and stood on the gutter holding her to me as close as I could.

Having a flash of horror about not being in control of the safety of our situation shook me. There are apparently contraptions you can buy that fit over the lock to keep toddler fingers away. Or there’s this tip (which I love) of facing the buckle inwards so little fingers can’t access it so easily. I’m definitely going to try that one next time we’re in the car!

After cuddling my precious bundle for a few minutes, I said a silent thank you to our Guardian Angel and put her back in her seat. Luckily she cuddled lion for the rest of the trip, entirely uninterested in the seat buckle!