Raising children nowadays can be a difficult endeavor in and of itself. Young parents must not only deal with family members’ comments, but also with random strangers on the internet commenting on their parenting methods.
A Creative Solution for a Busy Dad
Meet Jordan Driskell, a 31-year-old father of five quintuplets, aged five. Caring for five children of the same age can be exhausting, especially when they are naturally curious and love to explore. To handle his rambunctious little kids when they are out in public, Jordan came up with a creative solution. He purchased child-sized leashes.
Driskell previously owned a 6-seat stroller that they used for their large family. However, the children were often bothered when they were inside, and the stroller was also inconvenient to transport. The child-sized leashes allow the little ones to explore their surroundings when the family goes out, while their father keeps them safe and under control.
Criticism on the Internet
Driskell shared a video of the family’s trip to the aquarium, which quickly went viral, gathering over 3 million views. However, the video also attracted a lot of criticism from strangers on the internet. Many people commented that the children should not be leashed because they are not animals. Others even went as far as judging the father’s ability to handle the pressure, suggesting that he shouldn’t have had so many kids or that he should have trained them better.
The Expert’s Opinion
Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a parenting and adolescent development expert, disagrees with the criticism. She believes that using leashes does not make a child feel like an animal. In fact, if the alternative is not being able to go out at all, using leashes can be a much better option. According to Dr. Gilboa, leashes are an excellent tool for controlling younger children or neuro-diverse youngsters in public. However, she emphasizes that by the ages of eight and nine, neurotypical children should have developed their listening skills and should be able to interact with their parents verbally, without relying on equipment such as leashes.
Parenting Freedom
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 your friends and family to hear what they think too!
