Pondering Leashes

Brenda asks us to ponder with her each week on a word or subject of her choosing...seems fair since she does host the blog hop Pondering with a Purpose.  If you'd like to participate all you have to do is visit Brenda's blog to view the rules (there are only a couple) and link up.  You can also view the other postings from there.  So, here we go....Happy Pondering!

This week's prompt:  leash

How do I feel about leashes?

Better than I do about my "trainable" laptop right now.  I don't know how to train it, yet it learns things.  Bad things.  Like wiping out the entire post I just finished typing.  I wish I had even an inkling of a clue what I do that makes it do that.  Grrrrr!

Anyway....

Leashes.  I do use them on my dogs when they leave the house.  I wish I didn't have to, but much like my laptop, they are idiots.  All sense of hearing seems to flee the moment they step outside.  I base that on the fact that they never so much as look in my direction when I am yelling their names, whistling, clapping, or offering treats as bribes.  No leash outside = GONE.

Who me?  I no run away.  Really.  Trust me.

How about leashes on kids?

Basically, my feelings on that are "don't judge."  I always hear people saying how horrible it is.  Maybe it looks bad, but it doesn't harm the kid.  In fact, I'd say that a parent who uses some type of restraint on their child knows that child's personality better than anyone else....and they know their own abilities better, too.  If a restraint of some sort is needed to keep a child from running off in certain situations, isn't that better than a lost or missing child?  Or an absolutely obnoxious child running amok?

Someone gave me a "leash" of sorts when I had my first child.  It consisted of two velcro wristbands, one for me and one for him, and a stretchy cord, like old-time telephone cords between.  I only used it once.  Not because I cared what anyone thought or because it was traumatic for my son.  It was because it didn't really work.  I put it on us in a store, set him down on the floor and he promptly took off running.  He ran down the aisle, around the end of the aisle, and down the next aisle.  I knew he was on the end of the cord, but the thing stretched out at least 30 feet!  I had no idea what he was doing over there in the next aisle.  I unhooked him and put him back in the shopping cart.

Well, as Forrest Gump would have said, that's all I've got to say about that.

*By the way, have you ever noticed that "leash" is one of those words that when said over and over starts to sound wrong and you start to question yourself on its spelling and use.  Don't believe me?  Keep repeating it.  You'll see.