[blparent] Update on Street Crossings

[Erin Rumer]

Jo Elizabeth,

Your daughter is old enough now that you can teach her about traffic patterns in a way that makes sense to her.  Practice at home with toy cars if you've got them and empower her by having her tell you when she thinks it's safe.  As she gets more confident, make the traffic patterns more and more tricky.  Then try this out in the real world and give her huge praises for the times she's right, telling her how proud you are of her being such a huge helper.  When teaching your daughter about traffic patterns make sure to teach her that it's not just the surge change you're looking for but a blocker car that is preventing any cars from coming in front of you more than anything.

Hugs and keep up the great work.  It takes a lot of guts to get back out there and it sounds like you're kicking butt and taking names! GRIN

Erin

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2013 11:29 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: [blparent] Update on Street Crossings

I gathered up my guts this morning, and my daughter and I braved the infamous intersection where we had trouble with our crossing last time on the way to the park.  We’ve been out since the bad crossing, gone to other parks, and miles and miles on the sidewalks as she learns to ride her big girl bike.  The thing with the intersection was, I knew when to go and told her, but she kept panicking at the last second and refusing to cross.  She said there were too many cars, which there were a lot, but I could tell when the light was with us.  I hadn’t realized the incident last time had freaked her out so much.  Finally, on the fourth light cycle, I didn’t feel I had any choice but to take her hand and make her cross with me.  Is there anything I can do to restore her confidene in the street and in my ability to decide when we should go?

Jo Elizabeth

Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
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