This is the intersection of St. Clair and Arlington Avenue. I cross the street here multiple times a day with some combination of children in tow. On Monday as I was crossing the street with Ruby and Arden I got serious talking to from a stranger but the importance of handholding.
Holding hands when you cross street certainly seems to be a widely accepted convention. I'm not sure I buy it. Anyone who has ever tried to hold onto a two-year-old, let alone a two year old in slippery nylon Winter mitts, knows that it isn't an easy task. Two-year-olds crave freedom. And my approach with Ruby is, increasingly, to let her wander in, what I consider to be, a safe proximity around me. This is my attempt to indulge her curiosity without having to go into battle with her every time we walk down the street. And I'm happy to report that, for the most part, it seems to be working. I hope that I'm teaching her that she can explore safely. It isn't as though I have thrown road safety into the wind and abandoned all efforts of protection for her. We talk about watching the traffic lights. we talk about looking both ways when we cross the street. we talk about her having to stay close to the stroller or to me when we are walking around. I just don't feel the need to be physically guiding her everywhere we go. I'm not convinced that it would be good for either of us. Strangers can be strange sometimes.
3 Ginger Snaps 