That Damn Airplane!

Hi J.!

My husband has epilepsy. So as soon as we could start talking to our son about the elephant - we did. He was about 3 when he knew his numbers so we started practicing on phones - both landline and cell. There is a laminated sheet of paper next to my downstairs landline with several people's photo and their phone number. He knows that if Mama or Daddy won't wake up he should call one of those numbers and that he should start at the top and work his way down. He is now 5.5 and knows about 911 and emergencies and ambulances, etc. I actually taught him to get out of his car seat on his own in case we are in an accident together and I am unable to get him out. He knows that he can only get out of the car seat if we have been in an accident.

I also have guardianship and all legal documents in place in case of the airplane.

C.

Step AWAY from the statistics, J., step AWAY from the statistics.

As you know more than ANY of us, they apply to ALL of us, but they do NOT apply to YOU ALONE.

:)

(and yes, I am fond of The Elephant On The Sofa metaphor, first time I used it when trying to get The Man to communicate, he really really thought I was referring to him and his, um, tendency towards, um, slothness. tehehe) He had never heard that expression.)

Yes, the Elephant In The Room, same concept, everyone walks around him, but nobody talks about him being there.

C'mon! You're killin' me! tehehe

So with the elephant on the SOFA, everyone is careful not to sit in his spot, but no one asks him to move, or acknowledges his presence. Geez!

Meaning, of course, there is an issue that really needs to be resolved but everyone pretends it's not there!

ooh J.!! Have I told you today that I love you?! You so crack me up and I needed that laugh!!

No, we don't use metaphors here....we just talk about it.

Like you, don't hover but practice free range...but FIERCE protector..(surprised?) and like you, we have taught our kids how to defend themselves. Greg is a black belt and Nicky is a red belt in Tae Kwon Do.

They know how to dial 911 and know to stay calm in an emergency.

Somebody tell me what an elephant on the sofa is!!!! Quick!

I try not to use metaphors, they are confusing to the kids instead of really giving them the skills to handle life. What I do is try to prepare them as much as I can through the basics at age apporiate times (this of coruse will vary from child to child depending on their maturity). I have talked with my daughter about fires, car accidents (mainly because one of her friends was in a horrible one and we say a really bad one happen), or if something happens to mommy call daddy (she knows where I keep my cell phone and to hold 2 till it dials then tell daddy as much as she can, if possible call 911). I do protect my child BUT I also feel that it does my child no good if I do not help her on how to handle situations both good and bad.

I used to remind them that I might get hit by the pie truck.
LBC