Running away

Ella is really stressing me out lately.. she has taken to running away from me wherever we go.. doesn't care if mum isn't with her, she just takes off on little walks by herself in a matter of seconds.

Yesterday we had two close calls - I went to the car to put something in it and left the gate ajar as I thought Ella was with dad. I came back less than a minute later and asked DP where Ella was.. he didn't know! I glanced up the stairs next to our house and saw her right at the top.. It was so lucky as she could have gone down the stairs instead to the street!

Then at my grandma's house later on in the day, she ran away from me towards the street and I could hear a car coming so I yelled "stop" at her. She thought it was a game, but it was sooo close.. I mananged to grab her in time but it gave me a shock.

My question is - how do I explain to her how serious running away can be? I've already taught her about the road and how cars can only go on there, and she has to hold mummy or daddy's hand to cross it. I said if she goes on there, she will get a "big oww"..

If I go anywhere with lots of people now she goes straight in the pram or the sling, I can't trust her too not take off.

Gah, isn't 2 fun??!!
Ella is an absolute tearaway sometimes. She gave me a real scare the other day when I got out of the world's shortest shower and couldn't find her. She had made a hut under the table!
She is so independent now and has no idea about the danger of roads.
We've implemented a rule where she must hold hands when we're out in crowds or on the street. If she won't then we just stop and sit until she will. Of course if she's mid-tanty then it goes out the window and we wind up carrying her.
After having Ben, I dug out the toddler reins again because it was so hard to manage while driving the pram. They're a godsend when she wants to walk, even though I was initially a bit embarrassed about using them.
Anyway, that was a complete ramble! To summarise, I sympathise, and go the toddler reins!

yep we had the wrist riens and and they went aroundmy wrist and PAris's, and i could still hold her hand and no-one noticed but meant if she borke free, ha ha, she still could only go within arms reach.

I have visions still on paris opening the door as she knows how to. I go as far as to lock our door (would anyway while in the shower even if kids weren't home) and put the keys up very high. I tend to make the girls come and sit in the bathroom with some blocks of books while i have a shower.. that is except now ayja has remembered that she can open the door from thei nside, and will go off running around the house.