SAHMs: Do you worry about being....

[Bathsheba]

...at home alone with you children everyday, especially if they are too young to dial 000 for help if something happens to you?

I was feeling faint the other day and it occured to me that if I passed out the boys (3 and 1yo) would probably be left alone to their own devices until I regained consciousness. Heaven forbid I don't recover! Then they would be by themselves until my 12yo got home at 4pm... or if she was at sport training then they would be alone until nearly 6pm!

This really worries me somedays. Just another reason why being a SAHM is stressful due to the isolation

My 3yo is nearly 4 though... I think he might be able to dial 000 within the next year but he is soooo shy that getting him to speak on it would be a miracle.

[rolymogs]

.....

[Trillian]

It does cross my mind from time to time, and our nearest neighbour is just over 2km away as the crow flies. Even though Lindsay would know how to call 000, the girls wouldn't but they do know how to use a 2-way radio, so they could call up someone that way.

[LucaJack'sMum]

.... wasn't really.... until now!!! LOL!!!

[fionas]

I do worry about it a bit. If I hurt myself but wasn't unconscious, DD would be able to get the phone if I asked her to. But she's too young to teach to dial 000 though she was pretty adept at dialling hotel reception when we went away last week. Got a bit embarrassing after the third time.

I do worry more about something happening to DD (we have a polished concrete floor and DD has taken to hanging upside down off the couch) and not knowing what to do before an ambulance got there.

Good on you for taking the FA course Bath. It's something I should look into as well.

DP assisted in giving CPR on a train the other day so you just never know when you're going to need it.

[Inertia]

It did, and when my Hypo first surfaced, it was extremely concerning. DH used to call every hour to make sure I was okay - but even then he would be hoping - at the time - that my sister was home to come over if I didn't answer. He ended up talking work into letting him have MSN on his computer at work and then he would call if I didn't respond to his messages during the day. Also was cheaper for them, lol.

In the end, if I was having a hypo we discovered I would lay down on the tiles. I instinctively went looking for a cool surface to lay down on, and the kids were helped to understand that if they saw mummy laying on the floor to bring her the bottle of coke. It didn't help with anything else at all, but it made them so happy to help mummy feel better. Usually I would be in the kitchen because I was trying to make myself something to eat when I felt it coming on.

I guess this is why I don't give my kids much in the way of chores - they got a fair whack of responsibility just having me as a mum, lol. Now DH is self employed he is a SAHD. I am a student - but doing distance while preggers. The bonus is - I am no where near as far from him at tafe as he was from me at work.

[*charmalea*]

yes i worry .. all the time .. like what if nix was asleep and i went to put the washing on and falling down the stairs ... i also worry about getting robbed/held up on my own ... im worry fro nixons sake ... id hate to think that if i was a hostage or something that they would hurt nix and theres nothining i can do ... makes me shudder just thinking about it ...

[Bathsheba]

Well I think I might teach my nearly 4yo how to use a phone.... we have 2 in the house... when my DD gets home i might do a role play. I'll pretend to "break my leg" and can't walk to the phone: "Can you get the phone for me darling?" (we have cordless phones). Then I'll do another role play with me outside... then one of me feeling sick in bed.... then one of me not being able to wake up. My 12yo DD will be able to help him/ prompt him. Maybe I should put a OOO sticker on the phone to remind him. Any other ideas?

[Phteven]

yeah I do worry sometimes - we have 3 levels here anf often as I'm running up or down the stairs I wonder what would happen if I fell.
FWIW if you can teach your children to dial 000 they have number tracing so even if thier speech isn't all that good or they can't say the address they can still track you.
DH's cousin rang 000 accidently when he was 1 (a couple of years ago) and the police came over to do a welfare check - they actually have to come inside the home in case it's an abduction or hostage situation.
I should teach Yasin this week because he knows his numbers (except 0 )

[Phteven]

Bath, you could put a spot of red on the 0 button (nail polish maybe) so he can just push the red button.

[Astrolady]

Do you know I have never really given it a thought. Kameron learnt about 000 and what to do in Kindy, but he is now in school for 6hrs a day leaving me with just Lachlan and Ashton. I do have family that make contact once a day via the phone, and if I don't answer at times they know I should be home, they automatically ring my mobile, as they know it rarely leaves my side.

If something "different" is coming up for the following day, I let mum know so she is always up to date with where I am.

Mum also is alone all day at home with work, she doesn't drive so I know she can't go out. I have tried to ring her a few times to no avail when I know she is home, so I have then rang her neighbours to go and check on her. I also ring her neighbour if the phone has been engaged for longer than and hour, in case she tried to get to the phone to call someone and collapsed or something before dialling. But in those cases she has accidently knocked the phone off the hook while working or it has been a really long phone call to my Grandmother LOL

love

[MrsFabuloso]

This is something I thought about one day when I slipped and fell getting out of the shower. Luckily enough I didn't hurt myself, but I only just missed knocking my head on the basin. My dd is only 5mths old and my DH works for 12+hrs a day. I now try to have a shower only if DH is hom, which can be tricky sometimes....She'd be alone for so long without food or care, it really is scary, but there's nothing I could do to change it!

[Phteven]

I think I might show him how to use the speed dial to ring his father too...

[Ambah]

I worry about this too.... Not sure what to do about it though. Aidyn is nearly 3.5, so getting to the age where I might be able to teach him. But its just as worrying with a little bubba coming next year, when Aidyn will not be at home either on some days.
I also worry when DP is alone with Aidyn, as he has health problems...

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Well, I didn't before now! I do worry when DH is night-fishing, but that's mostly if DS doesn't like dinner and I need to get him to the hospital. Another worry to add to the list...

[Ursula]

That was a great question - made me ask my DS if he knew what to do and he was able to tell me that he had to ring police or ambulance but he was unsure of the right phone number to ring. So lesson has begun.................

Thank you Bathsheba for bringing this to my attention.

[C~Q]

Just called DS and DD in to ask them if they knew what to do. DS did but didn't know how to turn the phone on - he does now! DD didn't know what to do so I explained she had to call 000 if I was asleep and couldn't wake up. Heres hoping she doesn't call on Sat morning when she asks me to get up and I say no honey, 5 more minutes!

[Astrid]

Certainly worry here, especially when DH works away for 4 to 5 nights at a time. He is busy during the day so does not like phone calls and sometimes just crashes in the hotel room at night before calling. If something happened to me it could be days before someone found out.

Actually makes me glad that Maggie sleeps on the bed, rather than in a cot, that way she can get food, drinks etc for herself if need be.