I watched as our little, barely walking toddler walked away from us in a busy department store. I followed behind, hiding behind racks, to see if he would get scared and turn around. Nope. Did not turn once. Just waddled away. I had to race and grab him from behind once he stepped onto the escalator.

It was then that I really understood the need for those leashes. Had a talk with the wife and we decided against it, but it was close.

I've always felt weird about parents who have those backpack leashes for their kids, but now that I've been living next to my in-laws for a year, who have 8 children, I understand some of them.

I refuse to take some their kids anywhere unless one of them is with my wife and I.

One would absolutely go sprinting full speed away and hide from us just because he thinks it's hilarious.

Two would wander off because they saw something shiny and their brains are like an etch-a-sketches where every time a new thought enters, the old one has to get wiped away.

One would do the exact opposite of anything we say just because he figures he can.

And three others would absolutely just wander off, not because they want to but just because kids aren't always the best at spatial awareness and simply get too far away. And would be terrified if they noticed their adults were nowhere in sight.

So many people on this thread are defending leashes, yet they don't exist anywhere but in the US, so...

I have never ever seen a kid leash in Denmark or any country I have visited, and yet kids here don't run around in stores acting out or disappearing.

I don't know, they seem dehumanizing and humiliating to me. If other countries can raise kids (incl kids on the spectrum) without them why can't the US?

My parents sucked but I'm grateful they at least didn't leash me like a dog. They degraded me enough already.

I saw a gif around here some time ago. A woman was walking with their kids. When the walked passed a car ready to unpark the kid ducked in front of it. No warning, no logic, just suicide attempt.

“This leash demeans us both”

I was a leash kid

There are kids with behavioural issues or kids on the spectrum, it doesn’t mean they or the parents are bad people. I never agreed with the kid leash and still don’t use it but after 3 years with an autistic toddler, I don’t blame anyone for using them. Would you rather that child be running lose or running circles around you? Don’t criticize people’s parenting, especially if you don’t know their situation or have never raised a special needs child.

I remember being on one of those. They were fairly common in the 80s. I also deserved it because I was a little shit that would sprint away at the first opportunity in the grocery store.

“Timmy want a cookie? Timmy want a cookie? Good boy!”

Dammit dad, I’m 5!

ITT: people who doesn't have kids, doesn't interact with kids, or doesn't have to raise a particularly difficult kids, talks about raising kids.

OOP sounds like an insufferable person tbh.

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This leash demeans us both

Excuse me what the fuck? A human being on a leash like a dog?

What is this, how to destroy a child's dignity with one weird trick?