I used to feel the same way about those 'leashes' as you ShadowPred.
Have a kid or two. It does something to you. I've always been a protective son of a bitch when it comes to my friends and loved ones ... but it increased ten fold when I met my first son.
Anyway ... dat leash. Practical really. It doesn't make the parent lazy. A lazy parent is in the CD section while their offspring is tearing up the toy aisle. What else are you going to do? Carry the kid in your arms? Strollers are cool only to a point, then they make the kid lazy and not want to walk. The leash is a stepping stone. A training wheel. And piece of mind that your kid is safe as he takes those first steps in public places.
Now if I see a three or four year old in a leash ... that's just an overprotective parent. A wild untrainable child. Or a dominatrix and her 42 year old midget lover. Welcome to California.
I've retired my leash for lil' Bat Chain has learned well. His little brother ... liller' Bat Chain is just shy of a year and will be inheriting his older bros leash in the coming months as he learns to walk amongst the growing public retardations until he too can be trusted.
