I’m not on my own, but it’s often just me and DS together and DP often works out of signal, out at sea etc. On top of that, we live in the mountains so me and DS5 would often be found wandering around the slate quarries and the hills etc.
We don’t have a landline but you can set up your iPhone with an emergency contact from the emergency screen. I put my mum in and taught DS to call her when he was 4 - she’s the only one that I can trust to pick up the phone when called!! So even though she’s 300 miles away, I could trust that she would call 999 if needed.
In April this year, DS and I were in the house alone. My knee dislocated itself for no reason, just when I was standing in the kitchen. The pain was unreal and I fell over and passed out. I came round to find my son on the phone to my mum, saying ‘Granny, mummy has fallen over in the kitchen.’
I was so proud of him, and I know it scared him because his behaviour for the next month or so was very very grown up.
I learnt from that, though. Always keep my phone charged (the battery was dying.)Always keep my phone within DS’ reach. I had left the chain on the door because I’d been for a shower, but I couldn’t stand up so had to get DS to drag a chair over to the front door, unhook the chain and then move the chair again.
I’ve now told him that if anything happens to mummy or daddy while he’s on his own, he is allowed to knock on our neighbours’ doors on the street without crossing the road until someone answers.
My biggest worry now is me falling over and fainting while we are out and about!