[blparent] crossing the street

[Jennifer Jackson]

This is one I have worried over too. I have worked hard to develop the habit
of turning my head at the street to set the example. I do feel pretty silly
when I do this from habit when I am occasionally out without my kids. :)
This is probably easier for me because I did not loose my site until my
teens, so I learned to travel as a sighted pedestrian. 

I also put my cane out in front of my kids as a signal for them to wait to
cross until I move it. When I had a dog I instructed my son not to go until
I said forward and the dog moved. I have not done any of this with my oldest
in a number of years. In fact If all of the boys are with me then my oldest
holds one hand and I hold another brothers hand.

All of this being said, it has not worked perfectly. I have 3 strong willed
and independent boys who sometimes think they know better than me, and who
do not always follow the rules.

I suspect yours was more of a case of an adolescent who was not following
the rules. Obliviousness is a common trait of that age group. :)


Jennifer


-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Veronica
Smith
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 11:14 AM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: [blparent] crossing the street

Hello, here's a subject I don't recall ever covering.  As we were crossing
the street a few days ago, my husband, Gab and I, I, of course, did not turn
my head to look, just listened to the road ahead.  My husband could not see
the traffic coming up the road due to a parked car so he took a few steps
forward to look around the car and Gab thought he was crossing.  I had
already stopped and she kept going, when my husband reached out and yanked
her back.  
There was a car rapidly approaching.  She said she thought it wa safe
because dad stepped forward and she did not see me stop.
The reason for this post is I am wondering how others, us blind parents
teach our children to look for cars on a busy or eeven a not so busy road.
I have always said look both ways, first to the left, then the right and
then again to the left.
But I think because we, the blind community, don't turn our heads, our
children follow our lead.
Your thoughts?
V


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