08:57:00
Baltimore Mom Toya
Graham's Son-Smacking During Riot a ‘Teachable Moment’
When Baltimore mother-of-six
Toya Graham went into the heart of the city’s violence Monday and pulled her
teen son from the street – hitting him and yelling at him along the way – she
grabbed the attention of not just her son but the entire nation.
Baltimore Police
Commissioner Anthony Batts praised Graham, saying on Monday, “I wish I had more
parents who took charge of their kids tonight.”
Graham, a single mother, told
CBS News people took to her son’s
Facebook page to voice
support for her actions.
"Friends and
everybody making comments and saying you know, you shouldn't be mad at your
mother, you should give her a hug," Graham said of son Michael, 16.
While the intent of
Graham’s actions – saving her son from the violence and scolding him for taking
part – was universally praised, some questioned her tactics: yelling, cursing
at and hitting her son.
Parenting psychiatrist Dr.
Janet Taylor calls Graham a “power mom” who was “saving her son.”
“So often as parents it’s
all about discipline, which is teaching, and not punishment and she taught him
a lesson he will never forget,” Taylor said today on “Good Morning America.”
“She was taking control. She was desperate to show her son and save her son.
“Teens crave limits and
they crave boundaries,” Taylor said. “I’m sure there are a lot of kids who wish
that their mother had the guts and love to come and extend a hand to save
them.”
Graham told CBS News she
left a doctor's appointment with her daughter when she heard the news of
rioting at the same location she says her son had told her about previously.
"To see my son come
across the street with a rock in his hand, I think at that point I just lost
it," she said.
The riots began Monday
afternoon shortly after the funeral for Freddie Gray,
the Baltimore man who died with an unexplained spinal injury he suffered after
police took him into custody.
More than 250 arrests and
injuries to at least 20 police officers occurred Monday night into Tuesday.
“It’s one of those things
where you need to make a big impact,” Lindsay Powers, editorial director of
Yahoo Parenting, said of Graham’s actions.
“It’s a really
high-powered moment. It’s not like you can just say, ‘Oh, sorry honey, let’s
stop and talk about this.’”
Both Powers and Taylor
agreed that the violence in Baltimore – and earlier protests seen in towns like Ferguson,
Missouri, and Charleston, South Carolina – can be powerful teachable moments
for kids.
“I think it’s important to
talk about race and injustice and inequality in this world to shine a light on
it,” Powers said. “It’s the first step we can make in changing and making a
difference.”
Taylor said she uses the
moments to teach her four daughters about what to put out into the world.
“I really try to teach
them, no matter what, it’s about extending love and kindness and just showing
love because there are situations that happen but we really need to inject more
love into this world,” Taylor said.
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