It is easy to become a backseat parent. It is even easier to do this when the parent in question is a social media influencer. Content creator and dad Jordan Driskell recently received many varying opinions about his parenting methods after posting a video showing him walking his 5-year-old quintuplets on a leash.
The original post was captioned, “Come walk a mile in my shoes.” It has been viewed over 3 million times. It has more than 7,200 comments. Jordan states in a follow-up post that it is his most popular video ever and thanks people for “blowing it up.”
Most of the comments were not kind. Many made comparisons to dogs. One user asked, “Are they rescues?” One simply stated, “Those kids are way too old to be walked on a leash.” Another gave advice: “Can’t you just train your children well?”
Some people were more understanding. One user stated, “With 5 kids you need that responsible parenting right here.” Another echoed those sentiments, saying, “Considering my 2 year old tried to bolt into the street, yea we use leashes too now.” One addressed the haters head-on: “For the people complaining about the leashes, you try keeping track of 5 little kids. They seem perfectly happy.”
Jordan justified his actions to Today Parents: "Kids are so curious — they want to run off and explore. For our own peace of mind and sanity, we use a leash. It also allows us to leave the house and do fun stuff as a family without being stressed." A stroller was just too big and bulky for them, plus the kids wanted to walk around. The leash lets them safely do that.
Experts such as pediatricians widely differ on the use of leashes, and no major studies have been done on them. At the end of the day, it is up to parents to make the best decision for their children. The internet can hold its proverbial keyboard.
