RE: Never been so scared in my life....

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

I know that feeling from many years ago with . He wandered away from

us at a zoo in another state! Fortunately we found him within about 5

minutes. I was trying to figure out how to explain the danger of his being

alone when he looked so damn normal and healthy!

I can only imagine in this day and age (and being near the front doors) how

overwhelmed with panic you must have been! Don't you wish you could have

started ranting at the idiots who think a spanking is the answer? They are

totally unaware of what it meant for him to be on his own. At least

everyone was looking for him and they found him! Big hugs to you.

Sue

[Guest guest]

> so I could stay with Evan. We were standing by the front of the

> store so I could get him out of there if necessary. I actually

> sat on the floor with him between the two sets of doors and held

> him, tightly, and kept trying to calm him down. He started to

> calm down so we went inside the store but still stayed by the

> front. Finally he was calm enough for me to put him down to

Good job mom! Very patient and loving.

> walk. This woman comes up to me and says, " Stand your ground,

> you're doing fine. I was watching Dr. Phil today and he did a

> show about kids who have control over their parents instead of

> parents controlling their kids and you just have to be firm. "

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!

That's right, the cure for autism is to be firm.

It was a nice sentiment anyway.

> when I turned back around, Evan was gone! I looked in the close

Oh it is amazing how fast they are...

When was 18 months old we were outside taking a walk. One second he

was standing right next to me, and the next he was running toward a 70-foot

deep drainage pond. I never took my eyes off him; I just couldn't run fast

enough. I watched him run straight into the water, fall face-down, and

start struggling to put his feet down and get his head up, but he was

already out of his depth. Seconds later I was also in the water - I took

TWO STEPS into it in order to reach him, and the water was up to my chest.

I still have the clothes he was wearing that day but I never put them back

on him, or on Gabe.

That same day Matt and I decided to use a toddler leash, and we have ever

since.

Oh and he has no fear of water whatsoever. In fact I can't wait till the

pool opens so we can spend our days down there - fabulous OT for him.

I am so very glad it all turned out okay!!!

> what was going on to begin with. I kept hearing people say he

> needed to be yelled at or spanked. Someone explain to me what

*sigh* What is wrong with people??? I wouldn't spank a TYPICAL 4-year-old

for wandering off. Geez. If he'd run away with me calling after him to

stop, MAYBE, but wouldn't that just teach him that if you come back when

mommy calls you, then you get hit? UGH. Idiots.

THAT'S what we need -- one of those laser pointers that flashes the word,

" IDIOT " -- then we can point it at people and light 'em right up! Too bad

you can't do a long-distance laser tatoo.

-Sara.

[Guest guest]

That woman was a dickhead who probably has no kids, and should be beaten for

distracting you for the millisecond it took Evan to bolt. Wench.

I'm so glad he was located quickly and calmly, I'm really glad the store had

a great security protocol, and I'm so sorry you had to go through it at all.

(((hugs)))

Jacquie

[Guest guest]

(((Debbie))) How terrifying! I'm glad the store

personel were so quick and efficient. As for the

people with " helpful " comments, they just don't get

it. Do you have any NARY cards, or any other cards or

flyers explaining Autism? For some reason, people are

more inclined to understand if you have something on

paper.

Does Evan wear some sort of ID tag? We had special

tags made for with his name, phone number and

DX that we attach to his shoe.

Hope your feeling calmer now, hon.

Tuna

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Finally, two store employees came walking down the

main aisle and I saw one of them holding Evan and I

started crying even harder. I'm thanking God I have

my baby back and all is well. But try explaining to

people that, being autistic, Evan doesn't realize what

was going on to begin with. I kept hearing people say

he

needed to be yelled at or spanked. Someone explain to

me what good that would do if he doesn't understand

what he is being yelled at for???!!!! He thinks he

was just walking through the store....what's the

problem?? Yeah,

right! Meanwhile, Mom is hysterical and I've not

stopped shaking since last night.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

=====

mom to:

, 8, ASD

, 4, NT

Normal is just a setting on the washing machine.

- Whoopi Goldberg

______________________________________________________________________

Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca

[Guest guest]

- Does Evan wear some sort of ID tag? We had special

> tags made for with his name, phone number and

> DX that we attach to his shoe.

> Tuna

WHAT a great idea, Tuna!!

I would have never thought of the shoe!

i've been wanting to get something for

jenna, but there is no way she will wear

a bracelet or necklace.

Thank you for the idea!

nancy

[Guest guest]

I hope your feeling better now Debbie. Glad everything worked out for you guys.

Did the stupid woman who distracted you apologize or try to help?

I think the name tag idea is a good one. Might be worth a try.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Poor Debbie! what a scare you had, not to mention adding insult to injury

from the ignorant comments you received. I'm so happy your story ended

well. I couldn't imagine losing one of my babies either.

hugs,

(SAHM in GA)

MSN elizabethloht@...

n 33, mo, no formal dx

Phoebe, 11 wks

Never been so scared in my life....

> We had very nasty weather here last night...the worst I've seen in a

while...and as afraid as I am of thunder and lightning, nothing could

compare to the fear of thinking one of your children is gone forever.

>

> Last night, the boys and I took my sister and her kids shopping. My niece

was looking from a prom dress. Anyway, we went to Kohl's because she had

gift cards from there. I had never been there so, obviously, neither had

Evan. Well, of course he was probably stressed to begin with because of how

bad the weather was and I know that he could sense my tension --- as hard as

I tried to hide it even. So, when we got into the store, he started having

one of his meltdowns so I told my sister and her kids to go ahead and look

around and asked them to take so I could stay with Evan. We were

standing by the front of the store so I could get him out of there if

necessary. I actually sat on the floor with him between the two sets of

doors and held him, tightly, and kept trying to calm him down. He started

to calm down so we went inside the store but still stayed by the front.

Finally he was calm enough for me to put him down to walk. This woman comes

up to me and says, " Stand your ground, you're doing fine. I was watching

Dr. Phil today and he did a show about kids who have control over their

parents instead of parents controlling their kids and you just have to be

firm. " Well, STUPID ME turned my head for two seconds to tell her that I

appreciated her concern but that my child was autistic and autistic

meltdowns are " a bit " different from temper tantrums and when I turned back

around, Evan was gone! I looked in the close vicinity of where we were

standing and another person in the store saw the panic look on my face and

came to ask me what was wrong so I told her and then she went and told the

cashier in the front and he announced " Code Yellow " and we had every store

employee looking for him. They had me sit in the front because, of course,

by this time I was hysterical. This has never happened before. I'm sitting

here crying, again, telling you about it. Finally, two store employees came

walking down the main aisle and I saw one of them holding Evan and I started

crying even harder. I'm thanking God I have my baby back and all is well.

But try explaining to people that, being autistic, Evan doesn't realize what

was going on to begin with. I kept hearing people say he needed to be

yelled at or spanked. Someone explain to me what good that would do if he

doesn't understand what he is being yelled at for???!!!! He thinks he was

just walking through the store....what's the problem?? Yeah, right!

Meanwhile, Mom is hysterical and I've not stopped shaking since last night.

I need a shot of something....LOL....and I don't mean from a syringe. I

just can't imagine not having either of my babies anymore.

>

> Love, prayers and heart hugs,

>

> Debbie (GA), Mom to Evan (4.5 y/o with ToF, RBBB, Autism Spectrum

Disorder, Asthma); (now a whole year old and HH and NT?); and my 3

angel babies whom I will finally see when God says it's time!

>

> 9:1-3

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I kept hearing people say he needed to be yelled at or spanked. Someone

explain to me what good that would do if he doesn't understand what he is

being yelled at for???!!!!

ly, even an NT four year old might not get that, let alone an autie

four year old. Little kids do wander. We keep explaining to them not to

wander but they are impulsive and forgetful, all quite normal, and they

wander off. Spanking and yelling is unlikely to help any of them.

He thinks he was just walking through the store....what's the problem??

Yeah, right!

Yup, that's what he thinks. I have lost children briefly and it is just

terrifying. The world all looks so cold and heartless...Silly woman for

talking to you. I had people at the Y a couple of years ago tell me that I

shouldn't " let " Putter run through the locker room for he might fall and

hurt himself. They were two young women, early twenties probably and not a

clue about kids in general. Finally I told them that while I was talking to

them, Putter was going even wilder so they could hardly be considered to be

helpful. People listening instantly came over and offered me a hand so that

was nice. But we dressed in the special needs locker room forever

afterwards.

" Helpful " nitwits! HUH!

Salli

[Guest guest]

>

> That's right, the cure for autism is to be firm.

>

Yeah, I found that one out too late too, and I am stuck with two auties when

I could have nipped it in the bud ages ago by being sufficiently firm.

>

> *sigh* What is wrong with people??? I wouldn't spank a TYPICAL

4-year-old

> for wandering off. Geez.

Yup.

Salli