Peeple act like a leash is equivalent to a choke chain, for heaven’t sakes.
Why is it ok to hold a child by the hand but not by a harness? You are holding him or her either way.
In no way are you treating your kid like a dog.
I have five kids and did not have to leash any of them. I’d say they were well trained. However, any one who has a one to two year old so perfectly and majestically trained that he or she will never ever spontaneously jump out or run off. . .
and has such command and concentration that, no matter what the situation, will never for a moment lose sight of one of their kids. . .
what can I say but you get the Perfect Person award.
I had my very compliant 8 year old almost get offed in a Costco parking lot. I was holding her little sister’s hand! My 8 year old was day dreaming and suddenly took a skip and ran almost unsalvageable in front of an oncoming car.
THANK GOD I saw it and wasn’t looking at my key or a puddle or in the direction of a horn and screamed her name JUST IN TIME.
THANK GOD she stopped dead in her tracks and avoided serious injury or death.
The best of kids, even the oldest of kids, will do sudden and whacky things some times. If they are 1 or 2 or 3, even if you are a stellar parent, expect it.
And if you think a leash will help you in crowds or hazardous conditions, by all means use one and do not apologize to the Perfect Parents With Perfect Children crowd.
My mom put me on one in Europe. It was a family joke, but I was not in the least harmed and she was a very good mother.
I just want to thank you for your voice of sanity in this knee-jerk judgmental thread. Apparently, no one here has ever had a stubborn active 2-year-old who bolts even after receiving consistent discipline (including spanking).
It's like people don't realize kids have minds of their own. Or they forgot about when they went for the cookie jar even after getting slapped for getting a cookie every time before.