Last week in class we listened as our Professor told us about the ways we can keep children, especially disabled or autistic children, safe. What one can't prepare for though, when trying to keep your children safe, is when they disregard your directions.
On a recent family vacation, which I would classify as the trip of a lifetime, my two 12 year old girls walked away from my husband and myself. We were in the most beautiful of forests, exploring exotic birds, monkey and all kinds of wildlife. It is true that the day was hot and we had done a bit of walking. This nature reserve in Central America, however, is not a place we will likely be visiting again anytime soon.
Our scare came when after a walk through the reserve, we arrived at an Ocean inlet. My two children decided that they had enough of the flora and fauna and decided that they would walk back to our hotel without telling us.
What a scare when we realized they were no longer with us! They did not have I.D. either or a phone or ipod. What they did have was the spare key to the hotel room which allowed them to return to the hotel, adjacent to the park, change into swimwear, and head to the pool.
We were furious but relieved that all was ok. We explained that you do not walk away unattended from adults in a foreign country and that while an independent mindset is nice, it can be life threatening. I have earned every grey hair that I have!!!!!
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