You know the saying, "Make the punishment fit the crime"? Sometimes parents need to be reminded of that:
A woman who forced her son to rake leaves in the nude as punishment for misbehaving in school has pleaded guilty to a child cruelty charge. However, the 47-year-old mother might avoid a felony record...
Defense attorney Beverly Haney said the woman has no criminal record and does not deserve a felony conviction. "She lost her cool that day and she regrets it deeply," Haney said.
The woman is not being named to protect the boy's privacy.
According to evidence, the incident occurred on April 27 in the Mayfield subdivision. The 12-year-old boy had aggravated his mother by continuing to get in trouble at school, and the mother responded by sending him outside that evening to rake leaves naked.
Well, it is a non-violent solution, true, and April in Virginia is probably not too chilly outside. But what on earth could have been going through this mother's mind to think this was a suitable punishment for anything? Being forced to rake the leaves, okay, fine. Nude? I would never have even thought of that, much less imposed it on a child. I know the law allows parents some latitude in discipline. But when a mere photograph of your child performing the punishment would be enough to put someone in jail for years, you've gone beyond what's acceptable.
Posted by kswygert at November 18, 2004 05:18 PM