A mother discovered that her boys were misbehaving, so she decided she would not tolerate it. She created what she believed was the ideal punishment after her sons were impolite to their bus driver. However, not every mother would do it!
Jenn Brown, a mother from Harrow, Ontario, was compelled to justify her conduct when people all over the globe noticed her parenting after she publicized her boys’ punishment on social media. Jenn felt she had the right answer when the primary school notified her that her children were exhibiting «poor bus conduct.» While some complimented her innovation, others chastised the mother, who faced widespread criticism.
Her sons were seen heading to school with a banner that stated, «Being unpleasant and disrespectful to our bus driver.» «Mom is making us walk,» as punishment for misbehaving. Jenn had informed her boys that if their conduct didn’t change, they wouldn’t be allowed back on the bus, so she chose to be severe in order to hammer home the point that they needed to respect everyone and everything. Sadly, not everyone agreed with her tactics.
According to CTV News Windsor, Brown stated, «This was my response as a mother, what I thought I was going to do to make kids realize the bus is a luxury, not a given right.» «Is it too far to have them go 7.2 kilometers?» Yes. But I didn’t have an option if I wanted to teach them a lesson, «she said, justifying her show of harsh love. The lads took two hours to walk to school, which was a little under 4.5 kilometers.
According to Brown, it was her friend’s suggestion to use the sign that received the worst criticism from those who did not agree. She believed it was a good idea since it would discourage others from approaching the boys and offering them a ride. But it was the sign and the fact that she posted a picture of it on social media that started the debate. Many people called it «shaming» and told the mother she was wrong.
The mother regretted her choice to upload the photograph, which she had no idea would become viral. «Did I imagine so many people would be interested in seeing me carry my kids to school?» Certainly not. Would I have posted it on Facebook if this was the outcome? «No way,» she responded. «Have I learnt anything?» Yes, social media has a lot of power, and when someone reads a narrative, they select what they want and construct their own tale. »
However, not everyone agreed. Brown, too, garnered a lot of acclaim. «I began receiving friend requests, and I can’t tell you how many inbox emails I received saying nice work and good for you,» she recounted. She claimed the two-hour walk provided her sons some private time together, and she even received a note from the bus driver thanking her for giving her boys a lesson.
«It makes me feel like I was actively intervening in what my children were doing,» the woman said. «He felt grateful that I was trying to straighten them up,» she said, referring to the bus driver. «Would I do it all over again?» Yes. «With the sign, no,» Brown said, explaining that she was the one holding the sign for most of the walk.
In response to charges that she «shamed» her children, Brown said that she would never willfully do so. But, even if she did instill «shame» in her children, is it necessarily a negative thing? Should harmful actions elicit feelings of regret?