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The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Parents who force son, 9, to do squats when he's naughty defend themselves & call it a ‘corrective parenting moment'
A COUPLE who came under fire for making their nine-year-old son do push-ups and squats as punishment have defended their parenting technique. Dustin, 35, and Katie Maletich, 32, from Oregon, went viral on TikTok after they shared a video showing how they handled their son Tommy misbehaving. 2 2 Recorded on an at-home camera, Tommy was seen arguing with his mother over wanting to use her phone. Katie told him to stop and he replied: ''OK, chill''. The remark, however, left Dustin unamused. ''Did you just tell your mum to chill?'' a shocked Dustin asked the little boy. Without much hesitation, Dustin then demanded the youngster to start doing push-ups. The nine-year-old obliged, immediately getting down on all fours and and starting the exercise. He stopped after doing ten - but the dad still wasn't satisfied and told him to keep going. ''I can't do anymore,'' Tommy said - however, Dustin wasn't having any of it and kept pushing the nine-year-old to ''go, go'' 20 push-ups later, Tommy was exhausted - but his dad then broke the news that he'd also have to do squats. The nine-year-old did a whopping 60 squats before his dad finally told him he could stop. Irish comedian Emma Doran on the differences between her childhood and that of her kids ''Do we tell mum to 'chill out'? Absolutely not,'' Dustin told him after he was done. 'I wouldn't let anybody else talk to her like that so you don't get to talk to her like that.'' Tommy then apologised to mum Katie and the viral video ended with Dustin telling him: ''I love you.'' Sharing the footage online under the username @ raisingmaletich, Katie wrote in the caption: ''I will never stop being grateful to be raising kids with a real man who knows how to be a father, especially to his boys. Different parenting styles explained There are four recognised styles of parenting explained below: Authoritarian Parenting What some might describe as "regimental" or "strict" parenting. Parents with this style focus on strict rules, obedience, and discipline. Authoritarian parents take over the decision-making power, rarely giving children any input in the matter. When it comes to rules, you believe it's "my way or the highway". Permissive Parenting Often referred to as "soft parenting" or "yes mums/dads". Permissive parents are lenient, only stepping in when there's a serious problem. They're quite forgiving and they adopt an attitude of "kids will be kids". Oftentimes they act more like friends than authoritative figures. Authoritative Parenting Authoritative parents provide their children with rules and boundaries, but they also give them the freedom to make decisions. With an authoritative parenting style, parents validate their children's feelings while also making it clear that the adults are ultimately in charge. They use positive reinforcement techniques, like praise and reward systems, as opposed to harsh punishments. Neglectful or Uninvolved Parenting Essentially, neglectful parents ignore their children, who receive little guidance, nurturing, and parental attention. They don't set rules or expectations, and they tend to have minimal knowledge about what their children are doing. Uninvolved parents expect children to raise themselves. They don't devote much time or energy to meeting children's basic needs. Uninvolved parents may be neglectful but it's not always intentional. A parent with mental health issues or substance abuse problems, for example, may not be able to care for a child's physical or emotional needs consistently. ''This is masculinity,'' Katie wrote in the caption of the video, which has racked up more than 1.4 million views. But viewers were divided over parenting technique, with some applauding Dustin's method and others slamming the pair for making their son do physical activity as punishment. While chatting exclusively with the Daily Mail, Katie and Dustin defended their actions. ''This is not something exceptionally difficult for him because we all workout together as a family for fun several times a week and he is used to this sort of exertion,'' Dustin explained. '''You can tell right away when I ask him, 'What did you say?' that he knew he had messed up. ''He is such a great kid and is generally very remorseful when he knows that he made a mistake.'' Dustin applauded his son for apologising to Katie without being asked to and pointed out that the moment ''ended with love''. In Dustin's eyes, the physical exercise allows Tommy to ''refocus when he feels that he doesn't have control over his body and mind which always makes him more reception to healthy communication''. The couple said they never expected the video to get the reaction it did, and they viewed it as a ''tender parenting moment''. In the interview, Dustin said it meant something special to his partner because Katie grew up in a home ''where there was a lot of toxicity, emotionally reactive parenting, yelling and anger''. He said that when Katie saw the ''corrective parenting moment'' unfold between the two, it left her ''very emotional'' - and Katie allegedly felt ''inspired''. In response to the online backlash, Dustin reminded social media users that everyone parents in the way they ''see fit''. ''I think as long as you aren't doing anything to intentionally harm your child, I think you get to make that decision,'' he told the publication. As for their parenting method, Dustin explained they're trying to raise Tommy as a ''healthy, happy, resilient and respectful human''. Social media users left divided Online, the video has sparked a fierce debate, leaving many divided. One said: ''I don't really agree with physical exercise being used as a punishment but glad he was supportive of not letting them talk to you that way.'' Another chimed in: ''the fact he even said 'don't give up' & 'good one', encouraging him while also being a parent & disciplining him! literally a perfect example of what good parenting should look like in a situation like this!'' Someone else said: ''this is called tough love and holding children accountable for their actions. a lot of parents don't understand this. which is why we end up with kids running ragged.''
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Parents who forced young son to do push-ups and squats as punishment defend themselves amid fierce backlash
A couple who came under fierce fire for making their young son do push-ups and squats as punishment have defended their unique parenting technique. Dustin, 35, and Katie Maletich, 32, from Oregon, went viral on TikTok last month after they shared a clip showing how they handled their nine-year-old son Tommy misbehaving. Taken on an at-home camera, Tommy was seen arguing with his mother over wanting to use her phone. She told him to stop and he replied, 'OK chill,' which left Dustin unamused. 'Did you just tell your mom to chill?' a shocked Dustin asked the nine-year-old. He then told the youngster to start doing push-ups; Tommy obliged, immediately getting down on all fours and and starting the exercise. He did 10 and stopped, but Dustin still wasn't satisfied and told him to keep going. 'I can't do anymore,' Tommy said as an unwavering Dustin told him, 'Go, go. Don't give up.' Tommy ultimately did 20 push-ups before his dad then broke the news that he'd also have to do squats. The nine-year-old did a whopping 60 squats before his dad finally told him he could stop. 'Do we tell mom to "chill out?" Absolutely not,' Dustin told him after he was done. 'I wouldn't let anybody else talk to her like that so you don't get to talk to her like that.' Tommy then apologized to his mom and the video ended with Dustin telling him, 'I love you,' before the father and son hugged. 'I will never stop being grateful to be raising kids with a real man who knows how to be a father, especially to his boys. This is masculinity,' Katie wrote in the caption of the video, which got more than 1.4 million views. But viewers were divided over the interaction, with some applauding Dustin's method and others bashing the parents for making their son do physical activity as punishment. While chatting exclusively with the Daily Mail, Katie and Dustin defended their actions. 'This is not something exceptionally difficult for him because we all workout together as a family for fun several times a week and he is used to this sort of exertion,' Dustin explained. 'You can tell right away when I ask him, "What did you say?' that he knew he had messed up. 'He is such a great kid and is generally very remorseful when he knows that he made a mistake. 'He was very receptive to the consequence, gave a little bit of pushback when he started to feel he couldn't do more, but I encouraged him and told him that he had it in him and he was able to complete it.' Dustin applauded Tommy for apologizing to Katie without being asked to and pointed out that the moment 'ended with love.' 'The physical exercise allows him to refocus when he feels that he doesn't have control over his body and mind which always makes him more reception to healthy communication,' he added. The couple said they never expected the video to get the reaction that it did, and they viewed it as a 'tender parenting moment.' 'It meant something special to Katie because she grew up in a home where there was a lot of toxicity, emotionally reactive parenting, yelling and anger,' Dustin continued. 'When she saw this corrective parenting moment unfold with our son and I, the way it did, it made her very emotional and she said she felt inspired. 'She said she wanted to share it because she felt it would touch and inspire other parents the way it did for her and hopefully show parents in real time, there is a more connective and constructive way to handle poor behavior with our kids. 'It wasn't for "clout" or fame or any other reason that people have come up with. It was simply something that touched her that she felt could help other parents struggling with how to handle discipline better than generations before us while not being passive.' In response to the backlash, Dustin reminded people that everyone parents in the way they 'see fit.' 'I think as long as you aren't doing anything to intentionally harm your child, I think you get to make that decision,' he stated. 'We are just trying to raise a healthy, happy, resilient and respectful human. Discipline isn't a one size fits all, you're constantly going to be trying new tactics until you find one that works for your specific kid and the specific situation. 'Physical exercise is something that benefits the child and doesn't hurt them when done properly.' He vowed that they will never push their kids past their 'capabilities' and insisted that physical exercise teaches 'self control, discipline, and emotional regulation' and acts as a 'healthy outlet for frustration.' 'It teaches [them] how to do hard things [as] well, how to get good at being uncomfortable, how to be disciplined, how to refocus yourself, how to calm down, how to get pent up energy out, and just overall how to better yourself mentally and physically,' he said. 'We try and be very intentional with our parenting always and to make sure our disciplinary tactics are never done out of an emotional reaction on our end as parents, but always a thoughtful response that benefits the child and the parent/child relationship in the long run,' he concluded.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Stepdad's unusual discipline for son's ‘ok chill' remark sparks viral debate
A father's unconventional way of disciplining his young son has divided the internet after a home security camera captured the moment, and the parents decided to upload it online. Katie and Dustin Maletich are raising a blended family of four children. The parents were home with their 9-year-old son, Tommy, when he told his mother to "chill" – a comment they say is out of character for the boy. Nearby, Dustin decided to step in immediately. "It really was just an authentic moment," he explained on "Fox & Friends First" Thursday. "I was in the other room and heard what I thought was a disrespectful comment to his mom, and we try to do consequences or correlated actions." In the clip, Dustin can be seen calmly instructing Tommy to drop to the floor and do push-ups. After some hesitation, the boy does as requested and begins counting them off. After the exercise, Dustin and Tommy discussed what had happened and why his comment elicited such a response. Following the conversation, the two shared a hug, and Tommy apologized to his mother. "When you demonstrate the inability to control your actions, I think a physical consequence not only fixes that, helps you regulate, but it also reaffirms that you are in control of your body, and you can control what you say and do. Even if you don't so much feel like it," Dustin said. Katie later checked the family's indoor security footage and realized the moment had been recorded. "It was just such a tender, special moment to me. I wanted to keep it and save it. So, I checked the ring camera, and it was there," she said. At the time, their following was only a few thousand. Katie mainly meant for friends and family on social media to see the tender exchange, but the clip quickly went viral, drawing a torrent of praise and criticism from the public. Some online users supported the approach and applauded Dustin for standing up for his wife in their home. Others argued that linking exercise to punishment could create negative associations for physical activity later in life. Parenting expert and educational psychologist Dr. Michele Borba told Fox News Digital the discipline itself was "right on the mark," though she questioned the decision to share the video publicly. Posting the clip, she said, could be seen as an added layer of discipline or even public humiliation. Katie says she stands by their method and wanted other parents to see a different way of reprimanding children. "I thought maybe if other parents could [see] how this unfolds in real time it could inspire [them] the way it inspired me," she said. "I thought I want to share this, and hopefully it helps other parents come up with better solutions to losing it on their kids."
Fox News
4 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Oregon mom and dad react to backlash after using exercise as punishment
Katie and Dustin Maletich, Oregon parents of four, explain how fitness is a positive outlet for their children, teaching them healthy ways to handle emotions.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Parents defend using push-ups and squats as punishment in viral video
Katie and Dustin Maletich, Oregon parents of four, have gone viral on social media for a parenting moment that's sparked some debate. After Dustin's 9-year-old stepson, Tommy, told his mother to "chill," he was instructed to do several push-ups and 60 squats as a form of discipline. The workout was met with a father-son conversation about the tone in which he should be speaking to his mother. Tommy was attentive and apologized to his mom. Dustin Maletich, who is a corrections officer at a prison, ended the confrontation with an "I love you" and a hug. While some praised the stepfather for his approach, others were concerned about using physical exercise as a form of punishment. Dr. Dyan Hes, pediatrician and medical director at Highline Modern Medicine in New York, reacted to this discipline method in an interview with Fox News Digital, calling it a "ridiculous punishment." "If you have ever done 60 squats, you know it is painful, especially in a young prepubescent child," she said. "Regardless, this is still a form of corporal punishment. Exercise should invoke positive connotations, not negative ones." Educational psychologist and parenting expert Dr. Michele Borba shared a different perspective, stating that the stepfather approached it the "right way" by responding calmly and enforcing a punishment that seemed familiar and doable for the child. The California-based expert was more concerned about how posting the video online could emotionally impact the child and invoke "public shame." In an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital, the Maletich family shared that fitness isn't used as a punishment for their children, but as a method of teaching self-control and emotional regulation. (See the video at the top of the article.) "It's never like, 'We're punishing you because you were bad,'" Katie Maletich said. "It's, 'Hey, let's help you figure out some better self-control and a better outlet for whatever is going on.'" Dustin Maletich added, "We try to have the consequences correlate with the inappropriate behavior. If you demonstrate the inability to control your actions, then by doing physical activity, you're showing yourself that you are in control of your actions." "There are plenty of times that I get frustrated," he went on. "I can't lash out at my boss. I can't yell at somebody. I can't throw a tantrum. That's not the way the world works." The couple shared that their oldest daughter, who is 13, chooses to walk or jog if her emotions are feeling out of control, before engaging in a conversation with her parents. "[Our daughter] said, 'I don't want to have a sit-down conversation with you when I'm cranky,' but when she goes jogging on the treadmill, she said she finds that afterward, she's able to better communicate her feelings because she's more centered," Katie Maletich said. "Our kids like working out. They don't do it every day, but I think overall they enjoy it, because it's such a central part of our home." Fitness is a "positive bonding experience" for the Maletichs, she said. "They feel better, and they voice it afterward … They're happier, they're less frustrated. And so, to us, we see that as a win." This approach to discipline can differ for each child and circumstance, the Maletichs shared, which involves "intention and intuition." "The biggest thing is just learning to respond as a parent rather than reacting," Katie said. The couple's approach to parenting is "we're not raising kids, we're raising adults," Dustin shared. "I think putting more focus on how our kids are going to be able to handle life when they're adults is more important than figuring out how to make them happy and comfortable right now," Katie said. For other parents, Katie noted that physical activity has worked "really well" when followed by "connection and conversation." For more Health articles, visit "That's a really essential part of this," she said. "You have to explain it to them afterward and make sure that connection, both emotionally and to the issue and consequence, is there." The couple also responded to the backlash they received after posting the video, mentioning that they asked their son for consent before sharing it. He responded with hopes that it would go viral.
