The ‘Leashing’ of Children

I hope Katherine Manabat read her morning Times the very next day. She might have found that being leashed is much better than not. The story’s headline was, “Visitor Pulls Toddler Out of Mission Fountain.”

Children at that wonderful age can escape the watchful eyes of parents in the blink of an eye! And, which is more comfortable: being free to use both hands, protected from a sudden dart into traffic into a busy crowd (all much bigger) or holding onto the hot, sweaty hand of a grown person three times your size? (Probably feeling like your arm is being pulled out of your shoulder.)

Parents of the little 22-month old, searching for him, noticed a crowd and rushed over.

Orchids to David Cameron who jumped into the fountain and pulled him out, and to the woman who administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the medics came. Thank God and prompt discovery, the little boy is out of intensive care. It could have been different.

Give me a leash every time!

BETTY M. DEVANEY

Santa Ana