3. I had to save the children from their burning home

Last Saturday night, my husband and I were babysitting my 7 yr old nephew and 2 yr old niece at their house while my sister and her husband went out on one of the only two “date nights” they’d had all summer.

All’s going well, except for my nephew having a hard time with the crazy-ass thunderstorm going on outside. After putting him to bed I laid in his room for awhile talking about the probability of being struck by lightning, how the house is safe, etc. etc. He finally falls asleep.

I go downstairs and my husband and I proceed to watch some Rick and Morty online to pass the time. It’s about 10pm (I think?).

Suddenly there is a HUGE booming sound and the entire driveway lights up outside of our window. Holy shit! The house shook and everything.

I ran upstairs to check on the kids. Both are passed out. I couldn’t believe it, but was glad that they were both safe, sleeping, and okay.

Back downstairs something doesn’t feel “right.” My husband and I are at the windows, watching the storm, talking ourselves down from the surprise of the loud crash/house shaking/bright lights event.

I decided to check the kids one more time while my husband put on some coffee in the kitchen.

Still asleep. Awesome.

As I walk down the stairs I hear my husband say in the most creepy-calm voice ever: “Babe, call 911. Right now.”

“What?”

“Call 911. We have to get the kids. The house is on fire.”

Then I start to see the smoke slowly seeping into the kitchen. I’ll never forget how fast we ran up to those kids and out of that house. And the smell… Oh my god.

By the time we were outside another car had pulled in after seeing the fire from the street (my sister lives down a long lane). Apparently, lightning had struck the side of the attached garage on the house.

We got out without any injuries or smoke inhalation. The first responders came in epic time.

I could go on and on about that night, but I’ll save you the reading. Most importantly the kids are safe, but now I question the next time I tell a kid not to be afraid of lightning.