If the boys had been much worse I would have gone the leash route. Not being able to find the kid is really upsetting. DH got away from his parents when he was a little kid at a festival in Japan. He was terrified when he realized he couldn't see them. An adult saw he was distressed and didn't have any trouble locating his huge frantic American parents in the crowd.
Kids do indeed like to slip away. It is a big fun game with them. They probably get over it quicker when we don't freak out. Not as much fun then.
Exactly, Zen. And I have never faulted a parent for using a leash. I wish more would. Especially those who don't feel the need to keep their children 1) safe from the street and other physical dangers, and 2) out of my path where I could harm them unintentionally. I don't want to hurt your child, but if they run into me full tilt despite any extraordinary measures I may take, do not give me dirty looks or tell me to watch where I am going.
I found toting my kids around in a red wagon with wooden sides worked better than trying to put them in strollers. They thought is was a game rather than that nasty stroller limiting their movements. It was also great at carrying groceries home in at the same time. The things you do when you are a one car family and live two blocks from the grocery store.
In search of gift-giving advice: I have the gifts I'm giving, gift cards to restaurants and Barnes & Noble. I'd like to give them before Christmas itself, because I have no patience when giving presents. Do people resent getting presents early?
I wouldn't think so. They can always wait to open if they choose, though that doesn't help your impatience any.
I like presents at any time!
And they can wait to open them if they want.
What Brenda and Sue said. I'll wait to open early gifts, most of the time.
When we lived in a suburb of Nurnberg, it was village-like, and most things were walkable. We had a pram, a real English-style pram with big wheels that could climb centuries-old granite curbs, sprung on sturdy leather straps. With two under two, when StY was a newborn, we tucked him into the pram and had a jumpseat that fit over the top for his toddler brother. As soon as the younger could sit, they both went into the pram, facing each other, with the blankets tucked over them both--Incredible Two-Headed Baby!
We went everywhere, even after the elder was walking, with that pram. There was a wire basket set across the axels, where string bags of groceries and plastic bags for library books and other bits of shopping could be stowed, and the inevitable shoulder bag containing snacks, diapers, bottles, change of clothes, along with my purse. The weekly-ish snow in winter was cleared promptly enough that we could maneuver. It was fun!
I've heard from several disabled parents who thought the leash was a lifesaver. It gives the kid a bit of room to run around, but they can't run away. And it's a lot easier than holding the kid's hand all the time -- with small kids, that means having their arm up in a position that gets pretty uncomfortable after a while.
I think that kids on leashes are ADORABLE! (Not a parent.)
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to post and run but ltc wanted to loudly tell me she was teething and then my in-laws were here all day. We will probably use the harness style leash when she's out of the stroller (which I intend to keep her in as long as she will put up with it), and put up with the dirty looks from people. I'm already dealing with the barely concealed, "she's yours?!?" so what's one more dirty look, right?
