MaryAnn McKissick: Baltimore mom’s parenting techniques violent, lacking

Toya Graham has been talked about on most television channels today, including a lengthy interview on CNBC. The host concluded that Graham should be considered for “Mother of the Year” because of parenting techniques she used on her son during the Baltimore protests.

I disagree with these suggestions and I strongly disagree with her parenting tactics!

First, I do not think pounding your minor child in the head using clenched fists aids in finding solutions to prevent generational family violence. Shoving, pushing, ripping at the child’s clothes, punching him in the back, kicking at his person and striking out whilly-nilly at any reachable place, all the while screaming vile epithets and cursing at him, does not add up to “Mother of the Year” material to me.

She might have prevented his arrest considering her outburst began when she recognized her hoodie-wearing son’s eyes as she observed him throw bottles at the police.

Graham stated she is a single mother of six children. I wonder what happens to her other, presumably younger, children when she loses control of her temper behind closed doors. Mother of the Year? I think not!

This story was originally published May 4, 2015 at 1:04 PM with the headline "MaryAnn McKissick: Baltimore mom’s parenting techniques violent, lacking."