We all have different ideas on how children should be raised, just as we all use various techniques to do it. Online arguments between parents can and will happen over a wide range of issues, but certain ones have proven to be particularly contentious. You know the ones I’m talking about; they are the topics that every parent has an opinion on to some extent or another.
One of these topics is the idea of “leashing” your child – tying a lead to a harness or their wrist to keep them from escaping, running into danger, or, god forbid, being kidnapped. This has caused countless fights between parents in the past. Some believe it to be the same as abusing children, while others don’t see anything wrong with it as long as the kids are ultimately protected.
Recently, the topic has resurfaced after a stay-at-home mother from Los Banos, California, received online criticism for using a leash on her toddler while going to the grocery store. Alexis Solis, a former behavioral analysis therapist, shared a video of herself and her child after a shopping trip. The video quickly gained popularity online, with over 12 million views, and ignited a heated discussion in the comments section.
As a mother of two girls, Solis claims she uses her online presence to raise awareness about child endangerment. In one particular video she posted on TikTok, she can be seen asking her young child to extend her hand so she can attach a leash to it. She captioned the clip, “I’m tired of the world being this way but I’m never tired of protecting my girls. I’m okay looking like a crazy mom. As long as my babies are safe and thanks to everyone, I freaking love this thing.”
However, due to the video’s nearly 13 million views, Alexis faced backlash and her parenting was called into question by many. Comments like “I hope they leash her when she’s 50” and “I hate those” flooded the comments section.
In a subsequent video, Alexis clarified that using a leash is beneficial for children who tend to run away. She explained that in her previous work as an ABA therapist working with children on the autism spectrum, elopement – when a child tends to wander off or run away from the parent or environment – was quite common. She believes that if she had this device when working with families, it would have made their lives much safer and less traumatic.
So, what do you think about Alexis’ method? Do you agree that using a leash can be beneficial for the child? Share your opinions in the comment section.
