Comments on: Avoid Separation Anxiety

By: Kim Spiers

Kim Spiers — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:10:22 +0000

We just finished our one year as you know and always had a strategy, and our kids were 13 and 17 . BUT in a foreign country, where there is no english, it is sound practice, even if it is as simple as you get off next stop and DONT move.

Even when we just travelling in general, the rule was if you found yourself lost, you were to go back to the spot you last were together, and wait. We even had a pecking order that dictated the “eldest had to look for the youngest” so regardless of which combo of us were wandering, you know who was waiting and who was to be looking. A few simple guidelines, provided fewer headaches.

All worked out well…

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:01:32 +0000

At the time it seemed overkill to have such a detailed plan, but seeing the girls respond with we know what we would do having witnessed that family showed me it was a good idea after all. Plus we held hands. A lot. Probably more than they wanted but it was for my comfort as much as for their safety.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:23:12 +0000

Losing Lila on a train in a big city is a horrifying thought.

Altho, once in NYC, long before I had a child of my own, I found a little girl about 8 years old who had been separated from her family. I took her to the man at the token booth who contacted the police. It took a while, but she eventually made her way back to her family.

That said, your are 150% correct in saying it’s best to make a plan than to rely on fate. I’m curious to know, though, what sort of plan. Because the possibilities differ depending on the age of the child.

I suppose having Lila memorize our cell number (which is an American number that we use only for emergencies). Or getting of and waiting in one place — although I wonder if she’s be so frantic she’d forget.

Anyone else have personal experience with this? I’d love to hear more.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:45:59 +0000

It’s a very good point. Our children are currently quite young, so we strap the youngest in the buggy and the other two have to hold on, but as they get older, the chances of this happening grow. My parents always used to make a plan with us incase we got lost. It’s much better to be safe than sorry.

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:02:23 +0000

So true, Emily! That was the plan we had, BTW – if one (or somehow both) of the girls found themselves alone on the train, they were to get off at the very next stop and wait on the platform for us to arrive on the next train.

By: Emily @ Maiden Voyage

Emily @ Maiden Voyage — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:47:07 +0000

This happened to my family when I was younger! I can’t remember if it was our family trip in London or DC — I just remember it happened on a subway. My mom took my two younger siblings and I on a trip, and in the hurry of trying to figure out if we could catch a train in time, my brother ended up getting on the train, but the rest of us didn’t. He is the youngest, so he was probably no more than 10 or 12. We realized he had just gotten on and were freaking out. I think we caught the next train and got off at the next stop, hoping he did, too. Thankfully, that was the case. That was before cell phones, so it could have been really bad! Even with families who are really cautious, adventurous young boys can still find their way into trouble