Because our boys are seemingly bottomless pits, sometime ago Hollis suggested (jokingly … I think) that we buy a pet feeder, fill it with cereal or trail mix and let ‘em have at it. Walking through the mall with Caleb this morning made me remember Hollis’s joke.

Many times I use a harness with Caleb when we go out in public. There was a time when I thought these things were just inhumane. I used to think to myself when I saw parents using these things, You put dogs on a leash, not children! Hollis still can’t bring himself to use the harness, even though he admittedly sees its usefulness, because he can’t get past that thought himself. So what got me past that thinking? I became Caleb’s Mommy.

Caleb does not respond to his name and cannot communicate with words. Plus, if given any opportunity, he will wander aimlessly. The combination of these factors can lead to nothing but disaster if he ever manages for a moment to get out of my sight. So that is why I no longer have a problem with child harnesses.

These days when Caleb and I walk through the mall with his harness, I still see the eye rolls I used to do. I also get smiles and admiration. A few folks have stopped me to ask where I bought it. Sometimes when I see the eye rolls or head shakes I feel compelled to explain, to state my case. Surely they’d agree my case is an exception, right? But so far I’ve never been openly challenged. Anyway even though I notice them, I try not to think about people’s responses as much as my son’s safety. Still, most times I hold his hand while keeping the harness loop around my wrist as reinforcement.