There is a reason it is called a Safety Harness!

One of my biggest pet peeve's is when someone has to use a safety harness for there child, and people stair or make comments such as "why do you have your kid on a dog leash". Hhhmmm a dog leash what a awful way to describe someone who is trying to keep there child safe. I understand we all have our own belief's on parenting but is this mommy war necessary?

Every parent is different, every child is different, every situation is different. My situation is that I have a 2 1/2 year old son with Autism and he like's to wander, but most of all he run's! He also does not respond to his name. For us a safety harness is necessary for our Jo Jo.

I have once read and have been apart of conversation's with parent's and non parent's opinion's of a safety harness. Some people are very understanding and other people not so much. The excuses and reason's people come up with why a harness is bad is appalling.

Parent's have said thing's like "You should just put him in a stroller". Wow really how about my kid get some exercise and just walk with me. What's the difference, either way your child will still have a safety harness on. I have also heard comment's like "If you can't control your kid, then you shouldn't have had kids". Seriously!!! Who are these nasty mother's to judge my parenting!!!! I think the one that really light's a fire under me is when it is referred to as walking a dog, and last but not least "My child feel's like they have freedom when they can walk on there own". Ok well what toddler should have that much freedom? Your child could disappear in a second, no matter how vigilant you are. Accident's do happen even to the most cautious parent's.

I only want to protect my child, It's not cause I can't control him, it is because he has autism and doesn't understand what a normal developed toddler can. He doesn't understand walk with me, or don't run. The safety harness was designed for it's exact purpose, safety!

At Jo Jo's group I was talking to another mother who also uses a harness on her son. She uses it for all the same reason's as we do. She also expressed how hurt she get's when people stair at her or make comment's when they see her and her son with the harness. She said that times are already tough and the last thing I need is someone making me feel like a bad parent for using a harness, she is only trying to protect her son.

I guess the biggest point I want to get across is that you don't know everyone's unique situation and every parent has the right to use a safety harness if they feel it is necessary. Why bash another parent for protecting there child? Parenting is hard enough, if anything we should be empowering each other to be better parent's!