Dad roasted for clip of children on leashes: 'They're not dogs!'
A dad of five-year-old quintuplets is under fire for using a leash on his kids in public, with some saying the children shouldn't be treated like dogs.
Jordan Driskell shares his life on Instagram, where one of his videos started gaining traction this week.
In the clip, Mr Driskell’s children Asher, Dakota, Gavin, Hollyn and Zoey can each be seen wearing a backpack-style leash during a trip to an aquarium.
"When people judge me for using child leashes..." he captioned the video, adding: "Come walk a mile in my shoes."
The video, which was posted last month, has gained more than 3.6m views and divided the audience on whether or not the tactic is appropriate.
Many were supportive, saying the safety of the children is the most important factor.
“Keeping them safe is priority #1, so you’re all good sir!” one person wrote.
“Safety first… always,” another agreed.
“Told myself I would never do this BEFORE I had a child, when I had my child and he began walking I chased one ASAP!” a mother added.
But along with the support, the dad was also slammed for using the controversial accessory.
“Are you gonna train them to pull a sleigh next? Which one has the red nose? Are any of them rescues?” one person mocked.
“I wouldn’t use it, they are children… not dogs,” another wrote.
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“They are not dogs. How about some teaching what to do,” one suggested.
“Teachers can look after 30 kids without using leashes,” another said, while others told Mr Driskell not to have “that many kids if you can’t handle the pressure”.
Dad says the kids 'love it'
Mr Driskell, 31 from the US state of Kentucky, explained to TODAY Parents why he and his wife, Brianna, choose to use a leash.
“Kids are so curious — they want to run off and explore,” he said.
“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.”
The family used to use a six-seater pram but said it was “bulky” and “ridiculous” to transport.
“The other thing is, they want to walk when we go somewhere crowded. A leash gives them the opportunity to do that — but we’re still in control. They love it.”
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