[blparent] Walking with Children while Using a White Cane

[Jo Elizabeth Pinto]

I have encouraged my daughter, who is six, to tell me about obstacles as 
part of our ongoing dialogue when we walk together because I think it 
enhances her descriptive skills and her conversational skills.  I have 
traveled much more with a white cane in the past year because my guide dog 
retired and then finally passed away earlier this month.  I have often let 
my daughter guide me because she enjoys it, not necessarily because I need 
it, or I have let her hold my hand, or I have let her walk beside me without 
holding my hand if she proves at the time that she's acting responsibly and 
can stay with me and stop and wait at each street crossing if she gets ahead 
of me.  She's good at following the rules we have established.  But then I'm 
not one of these rigid independence-before-everything-else fanatics.  I do 
what works for me and my family.

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.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Michelle Creedy via blparent
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 10:50 AM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] Walking with Children while Using a White Cane

Hello List



I'd like to here strategies people use for walking with children aged 6 and
8 while using the white cane? They are members of my family. I'm finding it
very difficult because they keep wanting to guide me which I neither want
nor expect. I want to find things with my cane just as I would although I
get there's a balance between allowing them to also navigate. At which point
do you no longer require holding hands? Of course, crossing streets is a
different story and it's better to keep kids with you at all times. I'm
thinking more of the 8-year-old for this question of not holding on.



This has really come up since I've grown in my blindness skills and I'm
pushing their boundaries. This is of course all thanks to federationists!
It's awesome and I'm trying to figure out how to take the family along for
the ride.



Michelle Creedy



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