Raising kids today can be challenging. Young parents not only get advice from family members but also deal with strangers on the internet commenting on their parenting.
Jordan Driskell is a young father of five 5-year-old quintuplets. As you can imagine, taking care of five children the same age is tough, especially since 5-year-olds are curious and love to explore.
31-year-old dad Jordan Driskell came up with a creative solution for managing his energetic quintuplets. He bought child leashes to keep his kids under control when they are out in public.
Previously, Driskell used a 6-seat stroller for his big family. However, it quickly became tiresome because the kids didn’t like being in it, and it was inconvenient to take anywhere.
The leashes allow the kids to wander and explore their surroundings while Driskell keeps them safe and in sight.
Driskell posted a video of the family’s outing to the acquarium that caused a lot of negative feedback directed towards the parents. The video of the kids on leashes went viral with over 3 million views. Hundreds of people commented about how the children were not animals and hence should not have been leashed.
Others commented, “If you can’t manage the pressure, don’t have so many kids.”
Other offered disdain masked as advice, “Can’t you just properly train your children?” Discuss to them why fleeing is risky.”
Dr. Deborah Gilboa, an expert in parenting and adolescent development, has a different opinion. She doesn’t think using a leash will make your child feel like an animal. If the choice is between using a leash or staying at home, then a leash is definitely a better option!
Dr. Gilboa says that leashes are great for younger children or neurodiverse children to keep them safe in public. However, if a neurotypical child is still on a leash by age eight or nine and hasn’t developed good listening skills, that could be a problem.
By that age, parents should be able to 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 unneccesary judgement 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 know what they think as well!