this post was submitted on 22 May 2025
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.
Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:
- Both “200” and “160” are 2 minutes in microwave math
- When you’re a kid, you don’t realize you’re also watching your mom and dad grow up.
- More dreams have been destroyed by alarm clocks than anything else
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This is mostly copied from my reply to another comment:
Parents get tired. In fact, most parents have chronic levels of sleep deprivation which impairs things like concentration, reflexes, ability to pay attention, etc. Then you have parents who might be working multiple jobs, be dealing with health issues that affect sleep, etc. A leash would make that job to keep kids safe much easier.
No leash equals a non-abusive, even though not every situation can allow a parent to keep 100% focus on the child, but using a leash the parent suddenly becomes abusive?
Should a parent not give the kid a helmet when learning to ride a bike then also? Does using a helmet mean the parent is abusive?
I just don't understand this. I cannot fathom that someone would criticize a thing that objectively and provably make life in the world safer for children. It's just another tool to help kids get to grow up.
There are countless stories of children just walking away in the 3 to 5 seconds a parent looks away where the child falls off a height, falls into water (not every parent can swim, and not all waters are swimable), gets picked up by a stranger in a crowd, etc. Situations that a leash would 100% have saved the child's life.
And when these people are confronted on why it's abusive or "embarrassing for the child", they don't have an answer.
They might say something out of left field like "children aren't dogs!", to which I say "yes, you're right. Children aren't dogs. Very good! Now about the leash, why is it abusive?"
Counterpoint: children are people
I grew up with my father working night shifts and my mother being tired all the time, I didn't need a leash.
Children are a lot more capable and resilient if you give them the chance to be, and insulating them from small forms of possible harm doesn't help their development.
Now I am not saying "let your toddler run around a highway" but if you pick a reasonable place for your child to play there's no need for a fucking leash 99% of the time.
That's not a great take.
Children are people, don't make them wear diapers! They can pee anywhere they want!
Children are people! Don't limit their screen time! If you just give them plenty of toys, they will be capable of limiting their own screen time!
Children are people! They are resilient! Let them watch R-rated films and have unfettered access to the Internet!
No one is talking about putting a leash on an eight year old. We're talking about letting a 14 month old get to experience the privilege of walking in a public place rather than being trapped on Mom's hip or in a stroller.