My 3 year old has strep throat. I gave him the dropper of pink antibiotics and told him to go lie down and watch PBS kids while I changed the baby.

Five minutes later, I came downstairs to find a trail of bright pink liquid from the refrigerator to the couch, and a bright pink ring around his mouth. He had taken the bottle out and drank half of it.

After frantic calls to my doctor, Rocky Mountain Poison Control, and Walgreen's, the Poison Control nurse assured me that he had not overdosed, and the worst that might happen is a case of diarrhea. Well, I can assure you that he has been drilled with the message to NEVER EVER TOUCH MEDICINE WITHOUT MOM EVER EVER AGAIN.

Do they sell lockboxes for household medicines?

I went through the hall closet upstairs, and the bathroom closet downstairs, and was chagrined to find dozens of bottles of cherry and grape flavored elixirs. Medicines for coughs, colds, flu, allergies, you name it. Cough drops, sore throat drops, herbal drops. Pink stomach ache medicine. Tums in fruity flavors. To a 3 year old, each and every one of them looks like delicious candy.

So I threw out a bunch of them. I guess everytime anyone sniffles, I run out and buy a brand new fleet of medicines? What is wrong with me?

When I asked him why he drank it, he said, "But Mom, it tasted good, and I thought it was a drink for me."

Next time, I'll request the horrible tasting stuff.