If you ask any parent, they will tell you that raising children is no small feat. Managing even one child can be challenging, but with two, the complexity often doubles.
Now, imagine the task of raising quintuplets. Keeping all the children safe and in line can be an overwhelming job.
Jordan Driskell knows this all too well as the father of five-year-old quintuplets. You can only imagine the energy and curiosity that comes from having five little ones running around.
Five-year-olds are naturally inquisitive, and even for the most experienced parents, they can push one to the limit. That’s when Jordan decided to try something different—using leashes to keep them all within sight when they were out in public.
Initially, Jordan used a six-seat stroller to transport the children, but it became cumbersome, especially as the kids grew restless and the stroller itself proved difficult to manage.
Now, with the children on leashes, they have the freedom to explore their surroundings while staying safe and close by.
During a family trip to the aquarium, pictures and videos of the children on leashes were taken and shared online. Before long, the video went viral, amassing more than 3 million views.
The images showed the children walking around on their leashes, sparking hundreds of comments. Many people were quick to criticize, arguing that the children were not animals and shouldn’t be leashed. Some went as far as to suggest that Jordan shouldn’t have that many children if he couldn’t handle them.
Comments flooded in, questioning why he couldn’t “just train the children better” or tell them that running away is dangerous. As many parents will attest, simple instructions can often go unheeded by curious five-year-olds.
Thankfully, some experts weighed in to explain that leashing a child doesn’t dehumanize them. The alternative would be staying home, making the leash a practical solution.
Eventually, as the kids grow older, they’ll be able to understand verbal instructions and grasp the concept of staying safe. Until then, keeping them on leashes offers a manageable way to enjoy outings without putting anyone at risk.
