Katie Bar the Door!

Because the last of our childproofing, corralling gates is gone! We took the gate away from the base of the stairs, as it had become not much more than a toy to swing on and a place to hang clothes/jackets/whatever needed to go upstairs. The kids have free reign of the house now, adding physical control to psychological. And it wasn't even that bittersweet. For weeks, we've mostly been keeping it unlocked as long as they asked permission to go upstairs. And they feel very grown up in being trusted with forays to the second floor. So now we've made the freedom not only actual but symbolic, by removing the last possible barrier. But, for those of you who have toddlers who visit my house, we still have a pressure gate we can put up to block the stairs. The cats will like it better that way.