Mom divides internet with 'disgusting' punishment for misbehaving son

A mom's form of punishment for her backtalking children has gone viral on Facebook this week, leaving people divided about whether or not it was too harsh.

In a Facebook post shared by Molly Wooden of Texas, an unidentified mom can be seen standing over her son as he completes push-ups on the floor of a public bathroom of a Hobby Lobby in the town of Killeen.

Wooden - fully supportive of the mom's parenting methods - explains that the son was being made to perform the push-ups after "backtalking" his mom.

Writing alongside the image, Wooden says:

"To the woman in the Hobby Lobby bathroom. If my hands weren’t full of children I would have applauded you. As your son gave you the back talk of the century, you stayed calm and collected while adding 10 more push ups to his already growing number.

"We need more parents like you, who aren’t afraid to parent their own children because of what someone else might think. He said 'Mama, this is the bathroom floor, grossssss'.

"She said “maybe you shouldn’t have been acting obnoxious. (They have soap for a reason.) 10 more.”

"Random woman of Hobby Lobby, I love you. Keep on raisin’ them boys right!"

Wooden later updated her Facebook post, revealing that she had found the mom, who apparently thanked her for sharing her unique parenting technique:

"I have since found the Mom through the power of social media and she promptly thanked me for posting this, says she appreciates the support and positive comments, and we’re hoping to grab coffee sometime... while supervising push ups that is."

Since being shared to the social media platform on Feburary 23, the post has been shared more than 42,000 times and received over 5,500 comments (as of this writing).

Many Facebook users followed suit and applauded the mom's military-like parenting style. "Good going keep it up," wrote on user, while another echoed: "Great job Mama!"

Facebook user David Turner commented: "I'm all for it [...] real consequences for running that mouth. Keep it up and u will be the buffest kid out there. That's [why] so many of these feel the need to say and do anything with no repercussions. I do the same thing. Made my son jog about 10 blocks cause he was being disrespectful. Lesson this will not be tolerated and if u continue it will be consequences [sic]"

However, not everybody agreed with the mom's punishment, and the post also received comments criticizing the unnamed mom's parenting.

A woman by the name of Stephanie A Perry commented:

"Horrible, she took him ['aside]. A public restroom isn't really private. A good mother would have finished up an addressed the issue at home.

"Some parents don't realize that kids pretty much have feeling of resentment. Especially after doing push ups in a public restroom. [And] washing our hands doesn't kill every germ. I'm sure there was a better solution, and this wasn't it. Some adults are just [too] selfish to see true parenting through..."

Lyn Gordon also took umbrage with the fact the punishment took place on a bathroom floor, writing: "Disgusting making your kid get on that nasty infested bathroom floor... After reading these comments I feel sorry for some of you ppls kids, treating them like they in freaking boot camp. [sic]"

Another Facebook user, Alicia Szezendor, wrote: "Lazy parenting. Physical punishment is abuse. There are many other ways to be a parent and discipline a child. This is never ok. Hope your son raises his children better than you"

And Wendy Lynn typed: "Y'all should be ashamed of yourselves, instead y'all being proud of yourself putting your children through public humiliation. that's great parenting all right! Smh [sic]"

Is this style of parenting something you agree with? Let us know in the comments section...