As a young father of five quintuplets, Jordan Driskell has faced his fair share of challenges when it comes to keeping his 5-year-old kids safe and under control in public. After struggling with an unwieldy six-seat stroller and witnessing his curious little ones constantly trying to wander off, Driskell decided to try an unconventional solution: child leashes.
Driskell, now 31 years old, found that traditional parenting tools just weren’t cutting it when it came to managing his lively brood of five. The six-seat stroller, while practical in theory, quickly became a hassle, with the kids constantly getting fussy and wanting to explore their surroundings instead of staying put.
“The stroller was just so inconvenient,” Driskell explains. “The kids would get bored and start crying or trying to climb out. It was a nightmare to take anywhere, and I was always worried about losing one of them in a crowd.”
Determined to find a way to give his quintuplets the freedom to explore while keeping them safely under his watchful eye, Driskell decided to try using child leashes. These handy harnesses, worn by the kids with a leash attached to the parent, allow young children to wander and discover their environment without the risk of wandering too far.
Driskell shared a video of his family’s trip to the aquarium, where the quintuplets could be seen happily trotting alongside their dad, each wearing a colorful leash. While the Driskells found the outing to be a success, the video quickly went viral, sparking a heated debate about the use of child leashes.
Unsurprisingly, Driskell’s decision to use leashes with his quintuplets was met with a significant amount of backlash from the online community. Many commenters felt the leashes were dehumanizing and likened the children to “animals.”
“If you can’t manage the pressure, don’t have so many kids,” one person wrote. Another commenter suggested, “Can’t you just properly train your children? Discuss to them why fleeing is risky.”
However, not everyone was quick to condemn Driskell’s parenting choices. Dr. Deborah Gilboa, an expert in parenting and adolescent development, offered a more nuanced perspective on the use of child leashes.
“A leash is a great tool for younger children or neuro-diverse children to be controlled in a public environment,” Dr. Gilboa explained. “If the alternative to a leash is to stay at home, then of course, the leash is a much better option!”
She did caution, though, that neurotypical children should be able to develop their listening skills and no longer require a leash by the ages of 8 or 9, at which point parents should rely more on verbal communication.
Ultimately, Driskell believes parents should have the freedom to parent in the way they see fit, without facing unnecessary judgment from society.
“Every family is different, and what works for one may not work for another,” Driskell says. “As long as the children are safe and well-cared for, I don’t think anyone else has the right to criticize how we choose to parent our kids.”
The use of child leashes may be a controversial topic, but for parents like Jordan Driskell, who are navigating the unique challenges of raising quintuplets, it can be a practical and effective solution. By giving his kids the freedom to explore while keeping them safely within reach, Driskell is able to provide his family with the balance they need.
As the great leash debate continues, it’s important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. Every family must find the strategies that work best for them, and that may sometimes involve unconventional methods – even if they ruffle a few feathers along the way.
