Reply #108: I have 5 boys

[kimi]

4 of them are within 7 years of each other, and 1 was the family escape artist. That boy could get away in the blink of an eye, seriously. We made the decision of using a leash with him after he got away at the mall once and was lost for 3 hours. Only ever used it at the mall or at theme parks, zoos, places like that, though - but it really made things much less stressful. When he got older and I'd take him to the grocery, I'd have him hold onto the grocery cart as we went along, just to make sure he wouldn't get away. Today he's 22, and still reflexively grabs the side of the grocery cart when we go into Safeway.

Parents are capable of making their own decisions for their children, and should not be scolded for being responsible and trying to avert tragedy, for goodness sake.