Melissa Catherine Smith-Means, a 37-year old mother in Gaylesville, Alabama was been charged for first-degree cruelty to children. She was arrested on April 21, 2000. In the video clip below, it literally shows Smith-Means dragging her child through a consumer electrics store in Paris, Georgia. Apparently she was fed up with her child’s behavior and took her anger out on the youngster.
Tom Henderson of Parent Dish softens his stance with a bit of his own understanding. “I reserve judgment,” he says. “We have a court system to determine what was really happening in that store — and in Smith-Means’ head. I can well imagine a mother who ran out of options. Perhaps she told a difficult child that he would either come peacefully or she would drag him out.”
Some reasoning! Of course, I understand where Henderson is coming from, but there are parents out there who practice this kind of consistently hard discipline. I have even witnessed it close-up. Whether or not that was the reason behind the event, how she dealt with the child was clearly out of line.
Parents are human and we will make mistakes. However, it is our responsibly to make the necessary improvements. As a parent, it is extremely important that you make a commitment that you will never raise a hand to them in violence. By doing so, you rob them of their childhood, possibly more. Neither psychological torture nor brute forces are acceptable ways to discipline a child.
(DISCLAIMER: If you care about children, you may find this disturbing)
