Locked IN

So it seemed like a normal enough day...the kids (ages 4 and 2) ran upstairs to play with their Dream Lite in a dark bedroom.  The 4-yr-old then apparently decided to lock the door and pull it shut...leaving her sister inside.  I soon heard the complaints and went to investigate. 

Yep, sure enough, 2-yr-old is locked in her bedroom.  Keep in mind, it's simple to unlock...just turn the little knob in the center, but 2-yr-old G isn't getting the job done.  After my attempts at getting her to unlock herself failed, I tried every key I had to see if any would work.  Nope.  Tried a bobby pin.  No again.  Meanwhile, she's inside singing Itsy Bitsy Spider.  I try pushing on the door...it starts to crack the frame.  Oops.  I try again to get her to turn it and unlock herself.  Nope. 

I try calling my brother--a police officer, no answer.  I decide to get serious.  Try knocking the doorknob off with a hammer.  Not even close, and at no time a good idea.  Now there are marks all over the door from my bad attempt.  Then I get the drill (at the advice of my husband) to try to drill around the doorknob to break it free.  Discover I'm terrible with drill bits.  Another fail. 

Think about calling locksmith...decide it will cost way too much.  Make one last attempt at getting 2-yr-old to unlock it before I just break the door down and completely ruin the frame...she calmly and easily unlocks it, walks out and says "I'm hungry". 

Why did we have doors that lock?  It's an old house, and quite frankly, it's never been an issue before (and yes, I understand that I clearly didn't childproof my house properly). Problem is now solved as we have replaced the three interior doorknobs that had those locks.  And for the record, a new door at Home Depot is $26.