i know what all of you are going thru. my ds ran away in the mall while i was looking for curtians. of course he did not answer to his name and i was frantic.
i will also look into the elect devise. but my son wont keep anything on him due to his sensory issues. does anyone know how this works.
my Nephew doesnt respond to his name either too well--matter of fact not at all- the therapist say he does sometimes- but the day he does- I will let out a big HOORAY!!!!!! ,,,but will he ever?No I don't but I would think there would be other ways to attach it to the body. Maybe try it at home first then gradually increase the distance. I still have problems with Gabe "disappearing". And I am real serious about getting this for him.
Tammy
Jenni,
I'm sorry that you had this experience with your daughter. I do understand how you feel. I have is the fear of him not being able to communicate. Especially if he gets away from me. I am away from all my family right now and I have no friends and I am due in August with this next baby. I have NO IDEA who is going to care for him while i am in labor. I sometimes lie awake at night and realize that I just can't leave him with a wife of someone my husband works with. THERE IS NO WAY!! My sister is 2 and a half hours away and her children start school in August so she can't come here. I know this isn't about running like your post but the reasons that I can't leave him with someone else is the fear of no communication. Especially if that someone has never dealt with a special needs child before. And even if they have a special needs child...MY SON doesn't know them. I know i'm way off topic here ladies...so please forgive me....I probably should have posted my own topic instead of jumping on someone elses..LOL (it's the pregnancy) LOL Anyway Jenni, through your post here i really felt what you went through by you writing what you said and it just reminded me of all the different problems that we have with our children because of lack in communication. I'm so glad to hear that your daughter is ok. Take care,
Karrie
Perhaps setting up specific communication with someone else involved in watching her may help. Physically going and saying to each other will you please keep an eye on her. and then them physically saying it to you when they are going to be distracted. NEVER ASSUME someone else is watching them!
Im glad it turned out ok and she was safe!
This weekend I met up w/ other families for a picnic and my daughter just ran off. Typically, my DH and I are very good at keeping tabs on her but there was some confusion as to WHO was to watch her. So off she went. A few mins later I noticed she was gone. DH, the other parents and I started searching the park for her. DH checked the pool since that was where she was and it was her fav place to be (even though she can swim...she is 3yrs this Weds.) I finally found her w/ another picnic group. She was walking around in circles whispering to herself. I know at least 5-10 mins passed since we lost her.
I called out her name a few times and she did not answer (normal behavior). When I finally was able to get her to respond, she just gave me a blank look and whimpered. She whimpered not because she was scared or lost, but because she had a piece of bark in her shoe.
My heart breaks because my daughter won't respond to her name...I could have lost her.
Another parent tried to make me feel better by saying that her daughter (same age) won't respond if called...but...that didn't make me feel better. He daughter CAN respond if she wanted too, but refused. My daughter just won't.
It scares me to think had she gone into the pool, would she scream if she was in trouble? No...she wouldn't. I would have lost her.
This is why I don't want to participate in social functions. Not because I am embarrassed of my daughter, but I am scared for her safety. She is always running off into danger....and she runs fast.
Am I the only one that feels this way? I am so sorry for posting such a depressing, heartaching post, but I was reall frightened this weekend.
I know Target and Ebay have electronic leashes for kids. It is either a bracelet or necklace they wear and you can set the distance on it. You wear a transmitter and once they get out of range it will go off. Gabe still does this from time to time. I know Gabe's issue is he is very impulsive and last summer he disappeared a few times. Good luck.
Tammy
Thanks ladies for the support and advice. We are now more aware in indicating exactly who will watch her.
That electronic leash sounds interesting. I am looking into it.
I know what you are feeling ,and thank god everything is all right. The same thing happened to me and my then, two in a half yr. old , at a park in Chicago at night!!! My child was missing, for 35 min. I had the whole park looking for him . Some people had found my autistic son, some THREE BLOCKS AWAY!!!! At that time, he didn't talk. I thank god for those people, now, at 6 and a half yrs. old, we call my son "talk -a- thon" because he doesn't stop talking, but i watch him like a "mother hawk". Keep strong!!!!!
Mom from Windy City