... but sometimes I think it's important to catch them at it

[ailbhe]

Linnea: Good dog!
Ailbhe: Have you got that around Emer's neck?!
Linnea: No! [leans offstage to where Emer is, pulls at something]
Ailbhe: [dashed over, gets the curtain tie-back from around Emer's neck] You must never put anything around her neck, never. It's very serious.
Linnea: But she was a dog! she's not hurt
Ailbhe: [Tears running down her face] I know you didn't want to hurt her and she was having fun being a dog but it's very important - very important - never ever to put anything around someone's neck.
Linnea: OK. [pause] I will remember that.
Ailbhe: Thank you. [has a proper cry]

Then Linnea gave me lots of hugs and asked for squeezes and made me so much better. I didn't ask her to - I make a point of never asking them to - but she did.

And I believe her, too.

(We sorted out that guide dogs have harnesses which are not around their necks so in future Emer can have that kind of harness).

Comments

[mrscosmopilite.livejournal.com]

oooh what a moment... a heart stopping weeks long moment.
If it's any help I'm sure I have photos of Annie dog with her harness on, and she is far from a guide dog. Although it sounds like Linnea got the message just fine.

[biascut.livejournal.com]

Ack, that's an awful one. Again, I completely remember not understanding why that would be a bad thing to do, and it's exactly that kind of thing that I can remember thinking of doing myself as a small child that scares me now.

We also used to do skipping-ropes-around-the-waist to play horsies - someone realised that getting the horse to hold each end of the skipping rope meant that the rider had looped reins, which was more realistic and much better from our point of view, as well as our parents' and teachers! But I can't think of one for dogs.

Thank goodness you found them, and I hope you feel a bit less shakey now.

[ailbhe]

The running commentary stage is SO USEFUL. My sister used to live in a house with no gate down at the bottom of the driveway, which opened onto a narrow, footpathless country road with high walls and hedges on both sides.

"My wunning away! My wunning away down a hill!" caused her to drop everything and dash to the gate, where she intercepted the toddler...

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Of course, the number of siblings who ACTUALLY manage to kill one another is much smaller than one might think.

After all, my sister accidentally pushed me through a window once.

It WASN'T on the ground floor.

AND it was closed at the time.

(I went through the window, but not the window screen outside the window, so I didn't actually fall out. I did, however, have broken glass all over my head and shoulders. But no injuries.)

So, y'know, there's something you can look forward to . . . .

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Not helping! *makes flaily noises*

[ailbhe]

What does happen is that kids hang themselves by accident after putting things around their necks. There's been one Linnea's age in the news every winter since she learned to walk.

[ex-serenejo.livejournal.com]

Some friends of my brother had that happen. The child was almost a year old and got tangled in the blind cords. SO very sad.

[tiggsybabes.livejournal.com]

Kate did that to Holly yesterday, I almost passed out from panic as I only noticed when she'd tied dog Holly to a dining room chair :/

A Year 4 boy was being very silly this afty & was mucking around with the teacher's whistle & ribbon around his neck. My TA friend shouted at him until he cried as it could have ended horribly. I honestly felt my heart stop when I saw him.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I am very impressed with you, you know. You got across to her not to do it and why, without freaking her out despiye your own distress. *hugs you transoceanically*

[the0lady.livejournal.com]

What she said.

[ex-serenejo.livejournal.com]

You're such a good, good, mother.