This Mom Put Her Child On A Leash At A Park And She’s Asking The Internet If She Really Is A Bad Mom After Her Neighbors Got Upset With Her
A mom has a 2-year-old son who is essentially nonverbal at this stage in his life. Her son’s doctors assume that he most likely has autism or ADHD, though they have not yet confirmed one of those since her son is still too young for them to be positive.
She does have her son in therapy and she’s doing everything that she can to help him thrive.
One of the biggest issues she has with her son though is that he runs away constantly. He will be holding her hand one minute, then drops it and takes off the next.
He is also able to unbuckle out of his stroller and takes off running that way too. She has tried her best to hold tightly to his hand, which doesn’t work, because if she’s too firm he gets distressed, and anyway, he’s always able to get away.
“My son does not understand that running away is bad and he is not scared and he will not cry or seem distressed,” she explained.
“He is also very fast and slippery. I have asthma and a health condition.”
“After one incident on vacation where he unbuckled himself and ran into the street, I finally got him one of those backpack leashes with a furry animal and a strap to hold him.”
She let her son pick out the backpack that he wanted, and they have been using it for a month now without any problems.
It gives her son the freedom to walk away from her in a safe way since the leash attaches to her wrist and he can never truly get away from her.
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“I was at the park and my neighbor saw that I had a backpack leash for my child,” she said. “He called me a horrible mother for treating a child as a pet.”
“There were actual dogs around with leashes but this was a kid’s playground area. Other neighbors have begun to treat me coldly which makes me wonder.”
She’s left wondering if this is true and if she really is a bad mom for getting her son a backpack leash.
Here’s what the internet had to say.
“My mom leashed me and always defended it with, “I put a leash on my dog to prevent them from running off and getting hurt- and I love my child much more.” Course she said it with the sass level that could melt paint so…”
“I have two children with ADHD and while it may be hard to hear, this won’t be the last time someone harshly judges your parenting choices in the oncoming years.”
“You’re doing what’s best for you and your family. Your son is not physically or emotionally pained by this choice.”
“You’re a great mom and you’re doing a fantastic job!”
“Keep it up and any time someone says you’re not or makes you feel like doing what’s best for the people you love and care for, dm me and I will gladly remind you! Being a mom is hard but you are awesome!”
“My mum once lost me at a Zellers and child abductions had been happening she ran outside and saw a commercial white van drive past her.”
“I was playing hide and seek, thought I was winning while she had a mental breakdown in the parking lot.”
“The store associates found me as the cops pulled up. I was a leash baby after that. So were both my brothers. Mine was a dog harness with a buckle I couldn’t undo and bright pink. So, yeah. No shame.”
“You’re doing the best to keep your son safe in a way that doesn’t hurt or distress him, without negatively affecting your own health. He even got to choose the backpack himself!”
“It’s so much better than having him run into the streets and potentially get injured or worse.”
“Everything you say is reasonable. Plenty of parents use tethers like that in airports or crowded public areas.”
“Sounds like you handled it well and your son is responding. That’s what is important. Judgey parents will judge, which does you a favor since it tells you the ones you can ignore in the future.”
You can read the rest of what the internet had to say here.
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