[blparent] Introducing Myself and First Question

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)]

All the ideas you've gotten work well though not always at the same
time. My daughter doesn't hold hands well when she's tired or hungry. I
can feel this when I take her hand, her grasp is different. 
Also, be sure to balance staying with you, v. teaching valuable life
skills. All of us need to learn at some point how to buy an ice cream,
how to get directions from "strangers" stuff like that. And, we learn
these skills gradually and over time. 
Also, there's nothing wrong with getting on the floor and being a few
inches away from your child. 
Finally, when they are semiverbal, you can encourage them to talk to
you. People love to share stuff they like
Finally, you will discover that you can plan for everything and then
your plans won't work. And, you won't believe me until you see it
happen. The best advice I have is to enjoy your family, take things day
by day, and know that the day ends well if nobody gets hurt, you had fun
and you learned something, though what you learn may not be what you
expected. One should also learn more then they teach. 
Finally, know that if the mall isn't fun or if Aunt B's house isn't fun
and/or you are exausted after going, you don't have to go.  

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of kate02 at bellsouth.net
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 8:02 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Introducing Myself and First Question


Hi Angela and welcome to the list.

First for the record let me state that I can't stand the mall but have
ended up there for one thing or another.  I think its more I don't like
big crowds since it adds a level of stress to parenting.  


So with that in mind here's a few things My husband and I find helpful.


When our daughter was an infant we had her in a snugly or backpack until
she could walk well.  We then used a harness with a tether.  There were
some shopping trips where we would pull a stroller behind us though we
were not big fans of having our Daughter behind us since where we live
it seams people like to hover over strollers and I just never liked
that.  As our oldest is now about to turn seven, we have found that
there were techniques we used that work to this day.

Our Daughter will answer when called.  I did what I could so she would
mind the answer when called rule.  As a Toddler, if she didn't answer we
went home or we sat on a bench and spent the rest of our time waiting
for a ride.  Yes, I took mine to a children's museum and when she took
off and wouldn't answer, and ran around the place, when I caught her I
made her sit with me on the bench outside till our ride arrived 20
minutes later.  She never did that again luckily.  Come to think of it,
I think I got the idea after reading it here.

We have now began looking for wrist walky-talkies since I don't want to
give a seven year old a cell phone.  

But I think the best thing I can suggest is to see what's out there and
do what works for your family.

Hope some of this helps.
Kate
  
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Angela Frederick <angelahoward at mail.utexas.edu>
>
> Hi, Everyone,
> 
> I've been reading many of your stories on the list for over a month 
> now, and I thought it was time to introduce myself.  My name is Angela

> Howard Frederick.  I'm not a mom yet, but my husband and I are 
> planning to start trying to have a family very, very soon.  I have 
> many unanswered questions about being a blind parent and have really 
> enjoyed reading about all of your experiences and strategies.
> 
> I've always been a planner; I try to solve problems about a year or 
> two in advance my husband says.:)  So, I have my first question about 
> blind parenting I was hoping some of you could help me with.  After 
> dodging hundreds of little kids at the mall on Monday, I was wondering

> how I would handle my kids in that situation.  What strategies do you 
> use to keep your kids from running away from you when you are out?  
> Also, how do you keep your kids safe and out of trouble when you visit

> someone else's house and don't have as much control over the 
> surroundings?
> 
> Thanks so much for the advice, and I'm sure I'll have many more 
> questions in the near future.
> 
> Angela
> 
> 
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