Raising children today can be a challenging task. Young parents not only have to deal with opinions from family members but also face comments from random strangers on the internet about their parenting methods.
Jordan Driskell is a young father of five quintuplets. His quintuplets are five years old. As you can imagine, looking after five children of the same age can be quite taxing, especially at five years old when children are curious and love to explore.
Thirty-one-year-old dad, Jordan Driskell, decided to find a creative solution to his problem. He bought child leashes to manage his rambunctious kids when they are in public together.
In the past, Driskell used a six-seat stroller for their large family. However, it quickly became tiresome because the kids were uncomfortable inside it, and the stroller was incredibly inconvenient to take anywhere.
Using the leashes allows the kids to wander and explore their surroundings when the family goes out, without their dad losing sight or control of them, thereby keeping them safe.
Driskell posted a video of the family’s outing to the aquarium, which sparked a lot of negative feedback directed at the parents. The video of the kids on leashes went viral with over three million views. Hundreds of people commented that children are not animals and should not be leashed.
Some commented, “If you can’t manage the pressure, don’t have so many kids.”
Others offered disdain disguised as advice, “Can’t you just properly train your children? Explain to them why running away is dangerous.”
Dr. Deborah Gilboa, an expert in parenting and adolescent development, had a different opinion. She does not believe a leash will make your child think they are an animal. If the alternative to a leash is staying at home, then the leash is a much better option!
Dr. Gilboa said a leash is a great tool for younger children or neurodiverse children to be managed in public environments. However, she noted that if a neurotypical child is still on a leash by the age of eight or nine and hasn’t developed proper listening skills, that might be concerning.
By that age, parents should be able to effectively communicate with their children verbally instead of relying on tools like leashes.
Parents should have the freedom to parent the way they want without facing unnecessary judgment from society.
What do you think of children on leashes in public? Let us know in the comments below. Share this article with friends and family to hear their thoughts as well!
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