My kids are selling toys and (really good!) books between 1st and Meridian on 147th just near the I5 entrance north of Seattle. 50% of whatever they sell they’re choosing to donate to charity. They’d love your support!
I saw this on daniel tiger website
My son is almost five and mostly nonverbal. When he was 2 and 3 he eloped quite often, often in response to a frazzled nervous system.
During that time we:
had a third lock installed on the top of our door that he can’t reach
Had a sign put on both sides of our front doors and back gate stating “a child prone to wandering lives here, please close and lock behind you”
Added a security system that chimes when the door opens and closes
And generally, we kept a very close eye.
Over the years it seemed crystal clear that he outgrew this tendency. He is the youngest of four and his siblings had taught him to play in the driveway and return from the bottom and come back. I would have bet our life savings that he no longer was at risk for eloping- it just didn’t seem like him. But yesterday he did. His brother had left to door unlocked after heading to a neighbors and I was in the garage where his two sisters were roller skating and didn’t hear the door or the chime. Suddenly it was too quiet and we began our scramble to find him- he was 0.3 miles away. It couldn’t have been more than eight minutes. A group of teenagers had found him and was collected around him, they had called the police. My son was happy and had no awareness of the great danger he’d been in- apparently wandering in the street.
I can’t believe it happened. It’s been hard to shake myself from constantly thinking of it. We’re trying to take this as the gift it is to get our safety game back on point and I wanted to remind anyone here: all it takes is one time for something scary to happen. I really thought I was sure it couldn’t happen, don’t let yourself feel silly for being too careful.
Good luck to you all, hug your sweet kids!
Reddit is starting to feel legitimately not good to me in certain circumstances. Today my city’s subreddit posted about legislation being introduced to provide work flexibility for women who are experiencing disruptive symptoms from menopause. The comments were so disappointing with many people asking what would stop women who were tired of working after “having a few kids” to start phoning it in. Others, unsurprisingly, asked how we could prove someone was a woman.
What a fucking boys club. Meanwhile, here we are, experiencing such a hellish existence through no fault of our own.
I’m so tired of the downvotes for saying the smallest thing advocating for women’s rights or sharing awareness.
It’s just craptastic.
We were on a waitlist for a “good place” for therapy for over a year and sticking it out and waiting was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
Yesterday my son’s OT switched from doing a home visit, to now meeting us at the grocery store- a HUGE challenge for us, and it was so hugely helpful. My son is almost 5, non verbal, VERY high support needs. He typically sits in the cart with headphones and his AAC and sometimes reaches for my hands to cover his eyes. If he gets super dysregulated he starts to scream and tries to rock and flip the cart. Because of this we rarely go to the store (or, really, anywhere) and he’s gone- in his life- less than ten times.
Yesterday the OT really slowed things down, it was the slowest stroll. The store is really chill and lets him take food from packaging and eat while we walk so it essentially became a slow moving picnic for him. It was the very first time he’s been that regulated in a space so public and I was so proud of him. When we came to the check out line he was so regulated that for the first time ever, he reached into the cart and put things onto the conveyer belt!!! And when they offered him a sticker he grabbed one and put it on his hand- for only his second time.
So, if you’re wavering or wondering whether to get on any of the intimidatingly long waitlists? Do it! They’re popular for a reason and having confidence in your child’s care team is one of the biggest favors you can do yourself on this difficult path to walk.
Does anyone know why the community center pool has waaay less available open/rec swims? I’ve tried to call but no one answers.