When at a family wedding recently I realised that my children have a little more freedom than I thought I gave them.
let me explain….
As a VIP mum I often feel that I protect my children a little too much (is there such a thing?) As I have mentioned before I have a 7 year old and a 3 year old, since my sight has noticeably deteriorated since 2008 when my daughter was just 2 years old I have continually question my own parenting and compared it to my friends. for example, living in a bungalow I have a clear rule with my children regarding toys, I will tread carefully when walking in the kids rooms, but if they leave toys around the house they may be moved without warning or worse if trodden on, they risk being broken. So my children learnt very quickly to be tidy with toys outside their rooms.
When walking between the church and reception venue in Hamble recently with my parents, I discovered that I actually have my children more freedom and trust than my mum had expected or could understand.
Working with a guide dog, we are trained together using voice and right hand signals to convey information, so I am limited to carrying or holding things in my right hand the majority of the time. Resulting in my children learning to walk with or slightly in front of me without holding my hand, when crossing the road they will put their hand on my leg so that I know exactly where they are. Walking on a wide path by a busy road, my daughter was happily walking ahead with chatting with her cousin, my son was walking and skipping about 20 foot in front of us, my mum was continually asking him to walk with her and hold her hand. He struggled with this and it didn’t last long before he got bored and ran off ahead a little.
My mum found this naughty behaviour (which I fully understand) but after me explaining that this was different to what he was used to she seemed to understand. However, I feel that she found this difficult to understand eclectically as my sight is so poor.
The children do have rules when we are out like this, they do not cross roads without me, they do not walk around corners without me and if I feel they are walking off to far I will shout STOP and they are to stand still until I catch up with them. To check the distance, we often make a game out of it on walking to the next lamppost or telegraph pole. as the reader, what do you think?
Am I too trusting of them? I would appreciate your feedback x
Leave a Reply