Being on a kid leash saved my life. I don't remember this first hand, but my parents often tell about the time they took me to a ball game or something and I fell through the bleachers which was over 30 feet high. The leash prevented me from splattering on the ground.

Good lord. That is insane. Glad you’re still around!

My kids were leashed in public spaces because we knew they’d run off and they’re too young to give helpful information to find us.

Security guards thanked us because dealing with scared kids was one of the worst part of their jobs.

Do you still bite?

Should've gotten one with some elasticity so you could bungee jump with it.

I will never look down on a parent with a leashed kid. Rather a safe kid on a leash than a dead kid in the streets.

Leashing kids I'm betting 8 times out of 10 is uncalled for and controlling and stupid.

But you don't know circumstances, and let me tell you, I've met some kids. Sometimes it is appropriate, so I try not to judge.

Even if it is 2 out of 10 that it's appropriate for, those people are going through enough shit without me side-eyeing them. Probably ain't my business.

Didn’t Katt Williams put a stop to this like 20 years ago?

I'm less concerned with people who leash a toddler than I am with those who won't leash their dog.

Toddlers can cover the distance from the sidewalk to under a car tire faster than you can blink. Ill never judge a parent for having them on a leash.

The muzzle is a bit much though.

We're 1 for 1 for leash kids turning into furries

The little bag dispenser hanging off the handle is great if they're not potty trained yet too.

I was born a furry. 😤

No, that's what child muzzles are for. They only says that they were leashed, NOT that they were muzzled.

You probably think you're just telling a joke but you are not funny. Children ARE capable of biting, and sometimes they DO. Don't fuck around with human bites.

Oh so it's okay when the KIDS are on a leash, but when I'm wearing one, I'm a "freak" and I'm "being asked to leave the costco". Damn double standards.... I could run into traffic TOO you know!

Wait, what? The comedian?
...

... Oh.

...

I was a leash kid too ._.

My parents only used it on one occasion: A camping trip. They tell me they felt bad and never used it again. But the fact remains. I was on a leash once and now I'm a furry. We have correlation.

Causation is yet to be proven, but my hypothesis is that leashes and furry community participation are both potential results of some set of underlying personality traits that may or may not manifest both or either of these outcomes. Comorbidities that happen to align.

Ok I was of this opinion until I had an autistic son. He's crafty, fast and enjoys doing whatever he is told not to do. He's almost run into traffic several times. We caught him, but barely, enough to make me reconsider this idea. I haven't bought him one, but I understand.

I'll often look down on a kid themselves, but only because it is impossible to regard a being who is less tall than me without looking down u.u

Holy shit new fear unlocked

Tell me you've never been a parent without using the words.
One of my kids was a runner and could yank their elbow or shoulder out of place of you tried to hold on to them by their hand. A harness and leash made life bearable for all of us for that time period.

A while back I was driving on a gravel road just outside town and came across a lady going for a walk with a kid and a large dog. The kid was on a leash, the dog was running free.

I giggled about that for the rest of the day.

Can I ask, what animals do you like to dress as, and bang, as a furry? Just out of curiosity if you don't mind sharing.

Fuck no, im a pro leash parent.

We used a leash on our youngest for a few years in crowds. Never will be sorry for it. It gave him the sense of autonomy while keeping him directed, where holding his hand would quickly lead to problems. This was before the better understanding of ADHD, we were told by older adults (who were always critical of how we parented) that he'd "grow out of it". It gave us all peace and kept him safe.

Her answer should have been "yes".

For some children, they can teleport non edible items into their mouths. The muzzle is necessary

Are the lambs still screaming Clarice?

Huh, I don't remember writing this comment

Humans but my costume isn't very convincing.

They leashed you because they loved you and wanted you to be safe. It makes sense really.

Only once? I guess that's further confirmation that childhood trauma runs deep.

as an ex-leash autistic, I would have definitely run into traffic or just straight up disappeared had I not been

I've watched kids bolt. Some of you need to touch grass and interact with your neighbors.

I've only got one, but he has successfully made it to his teenage years because he was a leashed toddler. The amount of times I caught him when his face was two inches from concrete I can only count on one hand, but that's enough.

I only didn't use a leash because the one time I did the kid spun around and tried to strangle themselves on it. Not from being upset, just everyday normal accidentally-suicidal toddler behavior. Had I been that mom I'd have laughed. Hysterically, with an edge veering into insanity, because that's what it's like sometimes, with the infant and toddler tagteaming to keep you up all night and stressed all day. But a good joke is a good joke.

Thankfully my kids survived to adulthood.

I had one who would strip and run. I wrote my cell number across the back of their shoulders with Sharpie when we were on vacation and letting them play in the park.

She realized she put the dog on a bus to school.

Mine never did that but we knew kids who did.

Good job working the problem.

My mother leashed me and twin if she had us solo. Which is like. Fair? How you going to deal with two little runners by yourself?

Mother hated doing it though cause other people in the late 80s were so fucking judgemental about it.

Of all the shit in my childhood, being on a leash did not affect me. So leash them kiddies up.

I have never seen a leashed kid outside of the US/Canada.

Anyone know what people do differently in the rest of the world?

Gotta say, I'm appreciating the comments on this post a lot more this time around - last time this was posted there was a lot of anti-leashing sentiment.

I'm just trying to figure out - did the people on Lemmy change? Is it the time of day? Pretty sure it's the same community as before!

You've been added to the Best of Lemmy: https://sh.itjust.works/post/65805382

Better a safe kid on a leash than a dead kid on a leash.

I'm surprised it didn't pop your head right off!

They were popular there for a while. My theory is that we drastically changed raising standards too quickly; we went from spare the rod, spoil the child to don't beat your kids in one generation. Instead of parents learning how to discipline properly instead of using fear as a motivator, many just let the kids free range. When the kids completely lacked any discipline, they decided the backpack leash was the right answer.

We had a couple of years of super-nanny, people learned how to do a timeouts and actually talk to / reason with their kids.

I mean, it wasn't a neck seat belt.

Here's a picture of your normal family OP