By Peapodsquadmom | Leave A Comment
Oh how easy it was to have all of the answers before I was a mom. I was, admittedly, quite pious about my maternal ideals. Children on leashes? How ridiculous. How insulting.
I swore to myself that I’d never subject my own child to such inhumane treatment…especially in public.
Ha! Then I had triplets.
I still spend sleepless nights worrying about all of the dangerous scenarios caused by being outnumbered 3-to-1 when I take my kids somewhere by myself. Once they started to grow beyond a point at which I could reasonably expect them to hang out in a stroller for hours of shopping, I was all panicky.
What if someone grabbed one of them? Do I just abandon the other two while I run after the absconded one?
What if they all bolt? You know…in three different directions? What then?
Enter child leashes harnesses (does sound a bit better). Enter also some pride-swallowing. I would watch those other women as they stared at my safely harnessed children, and I knew what they were thinking. I’d want to scream, “Yeah, but…this is different!”
Mothering triplets has taught me some important lessons about myself. I suppose buried among those nuggets of wisdom is the realization that every mom has to make difficult choices based on what is best for her family. And who cares what all of those “me’s” out there are thinking?
And just for the record, at least I did chose a truly adorable harness for my kids. A monkey backpack. Stylishly safe.
Monica, who writes about her adventures in maneuvering life with triplets on Peapod Squad Stuff, has learned to never say “never.”
(photo from Walmart.com)
ABOUT Peapodsquadmom
Monica is an elementary school music teacher, mom of 6-year-old triplets and wife to daddy extraordi{read more}
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I was a “never” person. Not about leashes – though I probably thought they were silly (and am now buying one to take to Disney for my 2 year old) – but about TV, bribing my kid and I am sure something else. I saw my sister-n-laws young kids working the Tivo and was horrified. Granted my daughter can’t use the Tivo, but I have been know to kill two nevers in one fell swoop and say “you can watch Martha Speaks if you sit on the potty. My saving thought is at least I don’t let her watch TV with commercials. So, when I hear new moms say I’ll never… I just smile to myself and wih them the best.
I have two of the animal “backpacks” for my kids. They’re 5 and 3 now, so sometimes my son still uses his, but not my daughter. It came in handy when we went to a theme park with my family. We could just play “pass the tail”, LOL.
My toddler chose his own – the puppy.
And I do things I was determined not to do all the time.
I went to the zoo yesterday with my girls (21 months) in their stroller. They were begging me to take them out, so I did. I had a hard time getting them back into the stroller…Sophie did her wet noodle impression (or should I say screaming wet noodle), and Sarah just ran the opposite way. Leashes, I mean harnesses, will be in our future soon and we’ll just have to put up with the stares. Everyone was staring at me as I rounded them up yesterday, so what’s one more thing for everyone to gawk at?!
Yes, this is one of many things I swore I’d never do as well, but as you said, “This is different!”
I also have this leash. You know what, I love it. It’s cute. It keeps her safe. It helps me keep my sanity….but and here comes the but. I’ve only let her wear it in public twice. I want it EVERY time but can’t handle the stares, glares, and even comments. One lady said children aren’t dogs and shouldn’t be leashed like one. I bet she didn’t have children or else had forgotten what it was like. At the time we were traveling and in an airport. Thank Goodness for the harness. Maybe I should just make a tee that says, “I’d rather have my child on a leash than dead because I couldn’t catch her, so shut up.” Nah–I should just put on my big girl panties and learn to deal with their ignorant criticism.
Ah yes… I did the same thing before I had kids… then I suddenly had two toddlers who liked to run in different directions and I went straight out and bought them a harness each. We have four point harnesses, nothing fancy or stylish but if someone chucked a tanty and refused to walk I could pick them up safely by the harness and get across the road without being run down. Safety always has to come first!
I too have bought this cuddly leash for both my boys(2 and 4 years old) as like you have thought about what happened if they started running different ways who to follow(catch). I had once experienced having two lifts open up to us at the lift lobby and each kid dashing for their preferred lift.I was lucky that I was not carrying heavy grocery bags and had both on leash or I would have been unable to catch both of them in time.
I thought it was quite barbaric until lately. My aunt has a 5yr old autistic son. Aside from being socially disconnected, he gets these bouts of energy and sprints in any direction. The street, at unfamiliar dogs, and most recently the ocean where we took a family trip. It torments my aunt to see people’s faces and hear the snickers, but as someone else said, “Safety always comes first!”
I always said I’d never do it. But recently I started to really want to use a harness at events like fairs and festivals because they are so crowded, all it takes is a second and WHOOSH…they’re gone. I felt ashamed of myself for wanting to put a “leash” on my child but reading your story really opened my eyes and made me feel better about doing it. Thanks to your article, I’ll be more comfortable and confident using a harness and my child will be safer for it. Thanks so much!
HAHA! I laughed out loud at that t-shirt idea, I think I’m going to make one with my printer iron-ons. So funny and yet so true.