Nurturing children in the present era can be quite challenging. In addition to receiving input from relatives, young parents must also contend with unsolicited judgments from online strangers regarding their parenting approaches.
Jordan Driskell, a youthful father of quintuplets, faces the unique challenge of caring for five children who are all 5 years old. It can be particularly demanding, considering the natural curiosity and inclination to explore that children of this age possess.
Jordan Driskell, a 31 years old father, opted for an innovative approach to address his predicament. He purchased child leashes to manage his energetic young children while they are out in public.
Previously, Driskell relied on a 6-seat stroller for his large family, but this solution proved cumbersome as the children became restless and uncomfortable when confined in it. Moreover, the stroller proved highly inconvenient to transport to different locations.
This enables the young children to freely explore and discover their surroundings during family outings, without the father losing sight or control over them, thereby ensuring their safety.
Driskell shared a video capturing the family’s trip to the aquarium, which garnered significant backlash towards the parents. The viral video, showcasing the children on leashes, amassed over 3 million views, sparking hundreds of comments criticizing the decision to leash the children. Many individuals expressed the opinion that the children should not be treated like animals and therefore should not have been leashed.
Some individuals commented, suggesting, “If you find it difficult to handle the responsibility, perhaps you shouldn’t have so many children.”
Others expressed their disapproval disguised as advice, stating, “Why don’t you simply train your children properly? Have a conversation with them about the risks associated with wandering off.”
Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a specialist in parenting and adolescent development, held a contrasting viewpoint. According to her, utilizing a leash does not lead a child to believe they are akin to an animal. Furthermore, if the only alternative to using a leash is to remain at home, then undoubtedly, opting for the leash is a far superior choice.
Dr. Gilboa emphasized that a leash can be an excellent aid for younger children or those with neurodiverse conditions in maintaining control in public settings. However, she cautioned that if a neurotypical child has not transitioned off a leash by the ages of eight or nine, indicating a lack of developed listening skills, it could potentially become problematic.
At that point, parents should ideally be capable of effectively communicating verbally with their children instead of relying on tools such as leashes.
Parents deserve the liberty to practice their preferred parenting methods without being subjected to unnecessary societal criticism.
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