A viral video has captured a stepfather using exercise as a form of discipline for his stepson, and it’s making waves on social media. In the video, the young boy was caught telling his mom to “chill” after being asked to stop misbehaving.
His stepdad heard this and immediately stepped in, asking, “Did you just tell your mom to ‘chill’?” He then instructed the boy to complete a series of push-ups and squats. “Count them,” the stepdad calmly told him while he demonstrated the exercises. After the workout, they had a heart-to-heart discussion where the stepdad reminded the boy, “We don’t talk to our mom that way.” The boy acknowledged this, saying “No,” and later hugged his stepdad and apologized to his mom.
The family’s Instagram account, raisingmaletich, shared this incident, and it quickly went viral, amassing millions of views. The boy’s mother wrote a heartfelt caption, expressing her gratitude for having a supportive partner who knows how to guide their children. She recounted how while she was busy with family breakfast and work emails, her son kept asking to use her phone. She noted that the stepdad’s response to the boy’s disrespect was calm and constructive.
Reactions to the video were mixed, with many praising the stepdad for his approach. One commenter remarked, “Stepdad did the right thing. Awesome!” Educational psychologist Dr. Michele Borba weighed in on the situation, emphasizing that discipline should be tailored to the child and that this stepfather’s method was effective as he handled it without overreacting.
However, she pointed out that sharing the discipline on social media crossed a line. Publicly posting the video could make the child feel embarrassed, turning a disciplinary moment into something shaming. Dr. Borba stressed the importance of delivering discipline in a responsible and respectful manner, ensuring it promotes better behavior rather than instilling shame.
Ultimately, the stepdad’s intention was to teach respect while also showing love and support, emphasizing to the boy that he is valued.
