1-800-222-2222

There's a third time for everything.

Today I had to call poison control for the 3rd time.

Know why?

Quinn and Lillian were playing in the yard. Quinn's voice came over the walkie talkie.

"Mommy? We found some berries in the woods and K. (the neighbor child) says they're not poisonous. Can we eat them?"

I grabbed my walkie talkie and practically screamed into it. "NO NO NO NO NO NO! K. does NOT know what berries are poisonous and which ones aren't! She's only FIVE! DO NOT EAT THE BERRIES! DO NOT EAT THE BERRIES!"

I heard Lillian say in the background, "Quinn already ate one!"

Aw, man.

I told them to bring the berries inside. I lectured all 3 of the kids about eating things without adult permission, and then I sent K. home.

I jumped on the internet and Googled "South Carolina berries red stems". I found out that the plant the berries Quinn ate (which looked a lot like blueberries, except blueberries aren't in season) were possibly Pokeweed Fruit and they are poisonous. A tingle started in my cheeks and went down my spine. Lillian took Camryn back outside and showed her the plant, and then Camryn cut off a stem and brought it back in to me. Pokeweed was indeed the culprit.

Aw, man.

I picked up the phone and called 1-800-222-2222. Poison Control.

Worst case scenario from eating one berry: a touch of the runs.

This, in case you didn't know, is a Pokeweed plant:

I guarantee you that my kids won't ever go near one again.

Bless their hearts.