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Kids on leashes
- Thread starter MakiSupaStar
- Start date
Yeah, if it was an obvious case of abuse, I don't think I would have even needed to start this thread. I just wanted to clarify that before this thread derailed into THAT direction. It will get derailed, (I mean the Borg is already [DEL]assimilating[/DEL] tearing it apart
), but I just didn't want it going that way without me first clarifying that she was shaking in more of a consoling way, not in an abusive manner.
Why did they hold your hand if you had been taught (and learned) never to run off?
Seems like a restraint to me. Just not a leash.
I'm beginning to think your parents kept you on a leash.
I don't think my parents ever did - although considering the kind of child I was, I probably would have sustained a few less injuries if they had.
On my kids, we only used one once - because I didn't trust my attention or my 2 year olds learnin' with respect to cliffs or thermal features at Yellowstone.
Sure - I could have tied the kid in a stroller the whole time, or kept him in the backpack carrier... and never let him walk around or experience anything, but ti seemed less punitive to allow him some small amount of autonomy while still keeping the kid safe.
For those who are anti-leash... if you were going to spend a week exploring Yellowstone in the company of a 2 year old toddler - what would you do to keep your kid from dying?
Assume you'll be walking here:
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PS - the leading cause of death at Yellowstone (outside auto accidents) is stepping in the wrong place and falling through into hot spring/pool.
MakiSupaStar said:Sure she is buddy... Sure she is.
Okay, so responsible is a stretch. Culpable is more accurate. I was only complicit in having taken the picture. I will swear to only having done so in the interest of obtaining photographic evidence of this transgression.
Btw, I have other such evidence, if you would like to build a case against my wife.
My mom used one. Why? Because in spite of all her excellent parenting and the fact that I was an exceptionally precocious toddler who listened and minded very well - we experienced a moment that took all that fluff off the table and gave her a glimpse of seeing me made very dead. Fault her for overreacting and trying a tether? Not on your life. Fault her for not doing anything different for fear that some narrow-minded people who don't know jack about what their talking about might judge her - yep. That would be a mistake.
Doing something to keep your kid safe for all the right reasons - even if that something is odd or may draw unwanted attention your way is FAR better than allowing your pride to prevent you from changing your ways and allowing you to believe that you've done it all right and nothing could ever go wrong because of it.
All I'm saying is walk a pace or two in the shoes of a mom or dad who had a close call and then cast your stone.
Doing something to keep your kid safe for all the right reasons - even if that something is odd or may draw unwanted attention your way is FAR better than allowing your pride to prevent you from changing your ways and allowing you to believe that you've done it all right and nothing could ever go wrong because of it.
All I'm saying is walk a pace or two in the shoes of a mom or dad who had a close call and then cast your stone.
Sure, you can consider it a form of restraint. However, unlike a leash, holding a parents hand doesnt tether a kid to a parents wrist without the parent remaining active in the process.
Again, the OP was about a particular form of restraint, which I happen to find silly and only practical in certain situations.
In my experience with leashes - the leash doesn't tether a kid to a parents wrist without the parent remaining active in the process.
I guess I fail to see why it is any sillier than any other form of restraint - that seems more like a cultural bias, like the idea of eating dog being somehow different from eating cow.
Hi. I am Relic and I believe that leashes are sometimes a good thing. You may judge me for that, but then I will judge you as a nincompoop.
Damn. do you know how long I've waited to be able to use "nincompoop" in TBOT thread. That felt good.
Damn. do you know how long I've waited to be able to use "nincompoop" in TBOT thread. That felt good.
Thats cool, man. We dont have to agree on a minor parenting detail. I wouldnt put my kid leash, youre free to do so with yours, without consequence, so go ahead. I dont really see it as something to get defensive over. You dont have to prove your parenting tactics to me, whatever works for you.
Maybe it is a cultural bias, but I see no difference between eating dog or eating cow, myself, as I eat neither.
aborgman said:
The leash makes the act of keeping up with the child a purely physical one and allows the parent to focus on more important things, like shopping or talking on the phone. Sone tethers sold clip to the parents belt, allowing even more important tasks such as texting and mobile browsing......
Cultural bias? Do any other cultures tether their children?
Respectfully (and I know you know I mean that) I think you are being a little narrow-minded on this one. Your commentary that includes "silly" and other condescending descriptions of parents who have tried these tethers is insulting to parents who do so out of the BEST of intentions. It is actually demonstrative of how much they care.
Silly or not, they'd rather suffer the scorn and condescension of those who don't know any better than put their kid's safety in jeopardy. That's quite the opposite of what many here have been calling such parents - but it is a very real description of why some parents use such things - it's in the name of love and protection - not convenience and laziness nor for want of adequate parenting skills - they have been shown that the unexpected does happen in spite of their good intentions and are trying like hell to guard against it happening again.
Now, excuse me... I need to go out back and bury a bone. I don't know why, but it's just something I have to do.
Some other cultures see no problem with tethering actually.
No, I'm not going to start naming them, just do a google search or something. We are sometimes freaking uptight in this country....
When I was considering using a leash for my son, I can assure you that it was NOT so I could "text, window shop, pick my nose, etc" It was so I could be sure that he was safe even at the risk of looking like the nightmare parent that some here seem to feel I would be had I used it.
So does strapping the kid in a stroller, or a baby sling, or a backpack carrier.
That is kind of the point of those things.
In fact - I'd generally argue that something like a stroller or backpack carrier makes it far easier for a parent to focus on things like shopping or talking on the phone than a kid leash does.
Almost ALL cultures tether small children in one way or another - the cultural bias comes in concerning what type of tether is appropriate.
Respectfully (and I know you know I mean that) I think you are being a little narrow-minded on this one. Your commentary that includes "silly" and other condescending descriptions of parents who have tried these tethers is insulting to parents who do so out of the BEST of intentions. It is actually demonstrative of how much they care.
Silly or not, they'd rather suffer the scorn and condescension of those who don't know any better than put their kid's safety in jeopardy. That's quite the opposite of what many here have been calling such parents - but it is a very real description of why some parents use such things - it's in the name of love and protection - not convenience and laziness nor for want of adequate parenting skills - they have been shown that the unexpected does happen in spite of their good intentions and are trying like hell to guard against it happening again.
Now, excuse me... I need to go out back and bury a bone. I don't know why, but it's just something I have to do.
I understand where those who choose to use a child leash are coming from, and I respect that. That doesnt change my opinion that I feel they look silly, and wouldnt want to subject a child of my own to such a restraint device. Others are free to use them if they wish. Its not going to stop me (and some others) from thinking they look silly. Im not a judgemental person. Im not going to approach someone using one and call them lazy or tell them they look silly holding their child on a leash. Like I said, if it works, or has worked, or you think it will work for you, by all means, have at it.
I dont believe Ive used any other condescending descriptions (oh, I did say they look foolish, as I did "silly" and I stand by that), but if Ive insulted anyone allow me to humbly apologize.
tZer said:Respectfully (and I know you know I mean that) I think you are being a little narrow-minded on this one. Your commentary that includes "silly" and other condescending descriptions of parents who have tried these tethers is insulting to parents who do so out of the BEST of intentions. It is actually demonstrative of how much they care.
Silly or not, they'd rather suffer the scorn and condescension of those who don't know any better than put their kid's safety in jeopardy. That's quite the opposite of what many here have been calling such parents - but it is a very real description of why some parents use such things - it's in the name of love and protection - not convenience and laziness nor for want of adequate parenting skills - they have been shown that the unexpected does happen in spite of their good intentions and are trying like hell to guard against it happening again.
Now, excuse me... I need to go out back and bury a bone. I don't know why, but it's just something I have to do.
You're confusing the intent of the parent with the poor decision making process used to fulfill that intent.
I don't want my daughter to fall out of bed at night, so I strap her down with ropes. Is that demonstrative of how much I care? The lady that poured hot sauce down her kids throat said she did that because she cared, too, ya know....
Actually to be quite honest, they DO look awful silly.
Still, if I needed to use one, I'd use it regardless if I felt it would keep my kid safe.
aborgman said:
Slings and carriers are for children who can't walk. Seatbelts in strollers are for safety mores than confinement. But, you knew that.
