victoria houdini disappears

[victoriasdad]

hey, everyone , we have a lock on our bedroom door that my wife can lock from the outside so that when she leaves for work at six am victoria doesnt follow her out the door, which she did last year, well i guess we should of never let victoria watch prisonbreak, so this morning victoria gets up and climbs in bed with us, tucks me and mom in crawls in between us (to lull us into a false sense of security) and when she makes sure that mom and dad are zonked, she quietly leaves, but get this, as part of her master plan she locks mom and dad in their own room,

when i finally got up to get ready for work i walked to the door and its secured, i immediatly realize what is going on, and i start screaming for a bed check, alarms flashing , the baying of hounds, all the other prisoners are throwing toilet paper and lighting their mattresses on fire,,,,,,,,,, wait,,,,,,,,,,, now im the one watching too much prisonbreak

as we rouse the kids and start our search pattern across the neigborhood alerting our neigbors as to our percieved ineptitude as parents, my wife finally finds her a block and half away , my wife pulls into the driveway just as the cops arrive, new cop, doesnt say much , doesnt know the history of the lil escape artist nor the fact that the last two cops turned us over to child protection, still expecting a visit any time now, at least this one didnt suggest that we keep victoria in a harness with a leash...........................

[Pat]

I also have an artist!
Someone had posted a long time agoabout giving a pic to the police dept so if their child gets lost they have a recent pic.
Long story short, I called 911 by accident (miss dialed Susan's phone, LOL) & since the police showed up, I asked them if they had a program like that. They said no, but they got one started because of it. So I take John-John down to the police station, get his pic taken & if he gets lost they can put the pic thru all the police cars so they know what John-John looks like. You just have to keep his pic & info current.
I might suggest you go to your local dept & see if they have this. If not ask them to start it. It's easy for them to set up. Also it would help them understand about runners. So their first thought wouldn't be social services. Mine has a questionnaire to fill out. If you want a copy I'll send one to you to give to your police dept to help them get started. I know mine uses it for kids & adults.
Pat

[Ericsmomma]

Yikes! So glad you found her ok! I have a "runner" too...our house is like Fort Knox...only we secure it to keep Eric IN! We have a gate on his door, alarm system, and are getting deadbolts on all the outside doors. Last week I ran upstairs for about 20 seconds to get Eric a change of clothes, and when I got back downstairs front door was opened (didn't have the alarm on because I was with him), and Eric was nowhere in sight. After putting my heart back in my chest, I ran outside and called for him...nothing. I went around the back and there he was, heading towards the woods. I can't believe he made it so far so fast....and they say this boy has "low muscle tone and tires easily"! Ah, not when he's on the "lam". Its such a huge fear for me, so I understand how you feel. But I must give Victoria credit....she lulled you into a false sense of security and THEN locked you in! She definitely knew what she was doing....so maybe you guys should watch a different show other than Prison Break!

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Yikes!!! Scary!!! I'm glad she's home Now that I think about it, I CAN WAIT for Brook to get bigger

[twosomy21]

there is nothing wrong with these kids!!!!!!!!!!! clever and keen . she locked you in, thats funny. glad to hear she is safe,but not to be trusted

[damarasmom]

Too funny! Not for you guys in the middle of it I'm sure, but to read...made me giggle. Damara has yet to be able to get doors open so far we are safe...

[adnegron]

Well, look at her go!! Thank goodness Tyler is not up and about yet. My 2 1/2 year old, Kinsey, on the other hand is gone the second you turn around. We just bought our first house and have been here for 2 months. She has escaped at least 5 times already!! Thankfully she has a friend next door, so I always know how to find her. I swear those parents are never gonna let their little girl come over!! Glad it all worked out!

[jelanismom]

That Victoria truely is a little smarty pants I must say, can never underestimate how honery and clever our kids can be. Glad she's ok, but what a way to jump start your morning, eh? And what a jolt... I bet you didn't need your coffee...maybe a drink instead?! lol
Seriously, that's a scare I hope I don't have to write about. Man, it's like something I've dreamt about, but in dreams nobody helps you find your child and you can't scream, at least not in my dreams!

[Jackie]

Wow ...while all this sounds funny...its just soooo scary, isn't it.

Emily had a brief time at about ages 4-5 when she liked to disappear...mostly at the mall, but never at home.

If I went into a dressing room ...she would immediately duck under the door and me half dressed. Her goal was usually trying to find her way to the arcade area.

I solved that problem by talking shop people into clipping on a security tag to her clothes so if she left the store we would know...now these were the smaller places...not dept stores.

I also gave the security people a pic of her and her contact info so if they just happened to see her alone...they would know who she was and also when I called them in to help us locate her it would be easier.

More than once we found her inside of clothing racks...just sort of hiding. She was too big for a stroller and never liked holding hands...so was a dilemma for sure for a couple of yrs. But it stopped as abruptly as it started and she has never gone missing ever.

David (non DS) was a bit of a runner too. Lost him once at age 3 in the Louvre in Paris on a Sunday which is the day everyone in the whole city goes cuz its free...He had wanted to see the Venus from behind and disappeared.

Also lost him once in Cantebury, UK with us holding timed tickets back to the continent on the ferry that were non refundable. I actually DID buy him a "leash" and harness when we first moved to Germany cuz their streets are narrow and so are the sidewalks...and he was always stepping out in the streets.

I feel for all of you who have to deal with this. And OH YES in both David instances we did find him...LOL

Jackie

[CC]

Been there many times with Christopher in the past I am sad to say.

Glad all turned out well

CC ~

[lespring]

I'm sorry I snorted when I laughed. ;D

It's been quite awhile since Angela escaped. When she did (about 6 weeks ago, that's a long time, right?) I was a panicked mess. I was sure she headed for the park reserve ACROSS A BUSY HIGHWAY because she'd spend the previous 3 days talking about taking a "nature hike", and that's where we go to do it.

Right now she's just into taking off to do her own thing while shopping at places like Target. I'm almost to the point of trying her out. See if I say, "You may go look at toys for 10 minutes, then I'll meet you by the candy isle (cuz she knows where THAT is ) and seeing how things go. But I want to somehow bring a spy along to watch her! LOL

[Valerie]

Oh, crap! I know exactly how scary that is, I have an escape artist, too! Don't you hate that feeling when you go in the room they were in just ONE minute ago and they're not there?? Usually has just wondered off into the next room, but still makes my heart pound every time! Can't wait until he outgrows this!

Glad you found her safe and sound!!

[mommygwen]

Pat and Jackie have great ideas about giving a photo to police or security befor the escape is attempted.

Here the police offer a PGS locater attached to the wrist or ankle like a watch. The police officer comes out to visit once a month to check the battery and also get the client accustomed to police officers. The program is for both runners (Ds ,autism etc.) and amblers (elderly or dementia)

[heidiashliesmom]

Yikes! Im glad she was found safe and sound!

Ashlie went through a period of escapes but for the most part now she is better or maybe its because I have her hand held the whole time we are out and about, lol!!!!

[jelanismom]

I found this article...It's LOJACK for humans!
Maybe a pretty bracelet can be made and trigger an alarm when she leaves the house at night or whenever?

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1057876,4_1_JO16_TRACKING_S1.article

I haven't dealt with Jelani performing disappearing acts just yet.
He's not able to turn the locks on doors, and the deadbolts are up too high for him to reach. But he does find my keys if I mistakingly leave them (in of all places), MY PURSE! So when I hear jingle jangle of keys I know he's "trying" to leave the house, he thinks he needs to unlock the door with keys from the inside to get out.
At night I have a convenient doorway gate that I put between the doorway of the hall, he hasn't figured out how to get over it, he's still short (39 inches). I think if his legs grow a bit longer he can hurdle himself over it one day! For now though, it keeps him within the area of the bedroom and hallway so even if he wanders out of bed in the middle of the night (which he has started to do once in a while) then he can't get too far. I think the Lojack is a great idea. For now I use a stroller and let him walk holding my hand when we're out. I worry alot about his safety, esp. his unawareness to the dangers of running into streets...but that's another topic all together.