He is so routine driven that he did exactly what we always do, but the possibility of injury was there. He has a strong affection for manhole covers and double yellow lines. Many, many parents collecting their children from the school treat the Lollipop Lady as target practice and do not drive with any consideration to the number of children around. Need I say more?
Luckily we had been working with HRH on using this:
We call it his Agent Oso Backpack and had it around the house for several weeks for him to play with and get used to. Just a few days before he made his dash he had started using it outside with The Royal Advisor working her magic. After that frightening incident (for me that is, he was fine!) I popped it over his head for the school run the following day and it went like a dream.
Now, here comes the exciting bit. I have been to the shops, with both children, on my own and I didn't get stressed and HRH didn't run away. All of a sudden I see this whole new world opening up before me where I can go outside and be relatively relaxed. He really likes the 'backpack' and is in the habit of holding my hand while he wears it so our shopping trip was an absolute pleasure. We strolled around the shop for about 15 minutes and he pointed out his favourite letters (W and O) whenever he saw them and, all in all, it was a very dignified experience.
I am going to make an effort now to test him more with the harness and then I can start jiggling his routine around a little and expose him to new situations more often. I might even manage to get out for a cup of coffee!
The harness is available in Argos for about €18. Thank you Elaine!
*photo credit google images
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30 comments:
Excellent! I really hope you make it work for the coffee too. I didn't feel comfortable doing the shopping with Max until about a year ago (yes, he is 8 - my husband was fine but he's a lot less nervous around traffic than I am and can always do a rugby takcle on Max if he misbehaves). So I'm in awe of you finding a way so early on!
I'm so glad that you found a way to be able to get our more, to make it safer, and more enjoyable for you. It sounds like HRH likes it better with the harness, too!
We had a velcro strap for my son's wrist when he was small then graduated to the old fashioned reins until he 'got' the whole walking without blasting into outer space thing lol.
They make life so very civilised!
Having problems commenting on your blog Jen :( This is my second attempt on this post...here goes!
What a fabulous piece of equipment that is...and how cool too. helps to avoid those awful scary moments! I wish they were available when my WiiBoy was younger. I was the only mum in our area to use a set of reins on my child. Made me feel like such a bad mum. But that was pre diagnosis and as it turns out I was right.... mother's Instinct RULES!!
Great idea to share this Jen :))
xx Jazzy
I lost my son four or five times when he was a toddler, so bought reins for my daughter (pity she is too big for them now!! She is 10 and keeps dashing off to look at things in shops even now). Great idea though. Hope it gives you peace of mind.
Glad he likes it and is okay using it.
@Sandrine & TheHenrys, I hope I amn't getting ahead of myself but the few times we have gone 'out' have been much more relaxed. I had just stopped going out!
@Ro, lol at 'blasting into outer sace' but very true!
@Jazzy, will check out the comments now, someone else had problems last week but I think it might be a blogger issue. Blogger is messing around a bit these days!
@Diney, oh dear, don't know what to suggest for a 10 year old. Mind you when my son was 6 and used to do that I used to threaten him with reigns. He was old enough to know this would be horribly embarrassing for him and it kept him near me!
@Susie, thanks:)
Jen
I must say that's a very cool looking device, too! I love how it has a backpack attached. I could have used one of these a few years ago, to be sure! Now I just keep up with my mantra when we go anywhere, "Stay with the group, stay with the group." I may tatoo it on his hand!
That's such a great idea! Where did you get the bag? Max adores Oso too, so it may work with him as well...
I would have been terrified if Max had done something similar - he's so fast and I'm really *not* >_<
What an excellent creation! I can just imagine how great HRH feels with it on & how you can now relax those shoulders into the down position occasionally!x
Hey I like!!!
I'd love to know where you got those reins...they look really funky and not like "restraints".
The simple ideas are always the best.
XXX
Feels so good to be able to get out and about without stress and worry doesn't it
you might now have to change HRH to IAO :)
@ElizabethChannel - No doubt I will be using 'stay with the group' in years to come:)
@Marylin, Argos and they have them in Argos UK :)
@JFB, yes lol, my shoulders will be very happy, thank you for stopping by:)
@Jean, Argos http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/0988249/Trail/searchtext%3ELINDAM.htm
@Sandra, what does IAO mean? I am probably being really dense there lol.
Jen
That's great news! I am so glad Danny is finally beyond that stage of running off in his enthusiasm. I sometimes have to remind him to stick with me, but not often.
Thats great Jen, it takes time but I spent many a time stressing in supermarkets, check for teenager 'mosquito' alarm outside your regular stores, we discovered we had one after months of chaos at the supermarket and it drives autistic children nuts.
It is so worthwhile when you get to sit and relax in coffee shops again with your gorgeous child.
Jen I am so glad HRH has taken to being ok with the backpack. We were doing really well with it too but he now hates the long strap being held by us so we have to rely on being able to hold the handle on top of the bag if he makes a dart for freedom. Well done to you for getting out to the shops with the two little ones. :-)
Elaine XX
That looks cool - I hope he's still loving it and I hope you make it for that coffee ;-)
Oh how I wish I had had something like that when my son was younger. The child reins just seem too 'young' and almost an insult (they wouldn't fit him anyway) but this is a lot more thoughtful!
@Patty O - I can't wait to get an assistance dog, but the wait list is 4 years now as funding has been halved. I now know why the dogs make such a difference!
@Brigid - never thought of that and my fella has hugely sensitive hearing. Thanks for the tip:)
@Elaine - thanks so much for the heads up, I have paid it forward :) Sometimes HRH is a bit iffy about the strap too but there is enough of the bag to grab at if he makes a dash, easier to get a hold of than a shoulder!!
@MagicMummy - thanks :)
@Fran - good point, reins wouldn't fit here either but this is a good size and not as 'baby' as a normal harness:)
Thanks for the comments, appreciate you taking the time:)
Jen
Wow, it sounds like a whole new world opening up to you! The shops won't know what's hit them. And I am talking about you not HRH!
The backpack is a great idea! I used anything I could think of to slow them down: from reins, to dolls in prams, to toy shopping trollies. Both of my walking children have helped to push Smiley in her wheelchair - even when they could barely see over the top - always put a smile on the faces of other shoppers :)
I hear ya Jen. All 3 of my kids were runners on a mission!
We had a puppy dog harness!
I like the idea of calling it a "special agent Oso" backpack. Great idea!
Great little backpack. I am really pleased to hear about your pleasant trip out. Now if only I lived in Ireland I could join you for a coffee!! Mich x
What an excellent idea, plenty of people I can recommend this too, thanks.
I've seen those in the shops and I decided long ago that Z was going to have one as I can already tell she is going to be a nightmare once she finds her feet :)
That's great progress. As my mother in law would say 'the things they make for kids these days! X
@Photopuddle lol, you know I have lost the fine art of shopping this last few years, time to remember how :D
@BlueSky, dolls and prams will be used as Her Cuteness gets older and I have two that want to make a dash!! Thanks for the tip :)
@Fiona, lol at the puppy harness, but needs must!
@Mich, next time you are in Dublin??
@Marie, spread the word, Argos won't know what hit them :D
@Dawnie, and she can put some 'special' toys in it that she has to mind so she will HAVE to wear it to mind the special toys :D
@Foodie I wonder what we will be saying when we have grandchildren? The mind boggles :)
Thanks for all the lovely comments:)
Jen
I saw one of them at the weekend, great trick for kids that don't want to wear 'reins'! Just bought some reins for Little L I'm still gearing myself up to trying them out :)
Cute! My son has just started to bolt, may have to invest in one!
I too wish these were available when my boys were little guys...it would have made life a little less "surprising" at times..and I would have aged at a slower pace..:)
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