Ira

ume, excellent idea about the secret code shared with your child! Also, self defense classes even for girls are awesome. I hope we can all do that with our kids.

Mama: in case of your eldest, i think its a different story since you said he is on the autistic spectrum. But still, i think slowly, you can perhaps teach him how to be a bit more independent. It may take more time and effort for him but i think he will eventually get there.