A video is going viral online where a mother is yelling at her son for bullying an autistic child. Wondering why this is so hyped, as scolding is nothing new when it comes to parenting. The words used by the mother were a bit sharp. She didn’t realise, in anger she said, “How dare you?”

Some people applauded her for standing up for what’s right and teaching her son a lesson at the right time. Others felt her tough parenting style crossed a line. There were arguments on shaming a child in public.  

Was this parenting heroic or too harsh?

Was It Tough Love?

When parents see their children bully someone, it feels bad. And it becomes unbearable if the opposite child is a special child. We don’t realise but bullying sometimes causes deep scars. In this case, by confronting her son immediately, she sent a strong message to many parents.

Her supporters believed it was necessary. Sometimes, children understand their wrongdoings only when parents react strongly. Here public discipline was about making the boy accountable in real time.

Was It Public Shaming?

On the other hand, there are critics who worry about the impact of such discipline. Publicly calling out a child might create shame. He might feel humiliated. In such cases, children tend to become aggressive and never understand what they did wrong.

Experts say that shaming is not an effective way to correct a child’s behavior. Children learn best when they feel safe and heard. When they are embarrassed in front of others, it might adverse the situation.

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What This Teaches Us About Parenting

The debate highlights a truth every parent struggles with, how do we balance discipline with compassion?

Parenting is full of tough calls. Do we let small mistakes slide and risk raising an entitled child? Or do we correct harshly and risk breaking their confidence? There isn’t always a perfect answer.

Perhaps the solution lies somewhere in between. When you confront the behaviour, ensure to help the child process it later. Have a private conversation to make them understand the lesson without disturbing their mental peace.