Texas mom arrested after allegedly slapping son to make him clean his room

designer23 said on December 30, 2009 at 12:21 PM

Prisoners of war get slapped across the face. It's disrespectful, humiliating and abusive. There are more effective methods of "not sparing the rod" than slapping, especially to leave bruises.

stjakk said on December 17, 2009 at 9:55 PM

......"the 10-year-old claimed his mother hit him because he didn’t clean my room"..........The deputy should have smacked the little brat again and made him clean his room....................

dlongbeach said on December 16, 2009 at 5:16 PM

I think there are better ways to get a child to clean his room. Some of these comments make me wonder about some people. When you slap a child across the face enough to leave bruises and red marks, it is because the parent is angry. My parents would find anything they could to hit us, and now we we've all grown up, including them (they were children having children) we have the most uncomfortable relationship. It becomes so personal to the child when you slap them across the face and in front of siblings. Bad mother.

surefoot1 said on December 15, 2009 at 11:46 PM

I'm sure this little runt got slapped across his face NOT for not cleaning his room, He probably got whacked because of his back talk to his mom. And he was supposed to get whacked. If you don't know the difference between discipline and abuse, don't have children. In this case when I got out on bail, I would have packed his belongings and delivered him to the court of he judge thatsentenced me. If I can't discipline him,, I can't raise him.

phlypaper said on December 15, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Holy Cow ~ now we know what is wrong with kids these days. They know they don't have to mind what their parents tell them to do. Personally, I think any parent should be able to beat their own kids to death if they want to! They brought them into this world, they should be able to take them out if they aren't contributing to society in a positive way.

one1deep said on December 15, 2009 at 4:41 PM

it takes love and patience to draw up a plan of action and intervention in your child's behaviour.....Redirect your childs patterns, involve them in the VERY many community activities set up FOR A REASON...... having children and keeping them feed, clothed, educated, and housed doesnt constitute a PARENT...We live in a world where parents are either to passive or too aggressive there is fine line of balance to be found in between and YOU the parent WILL carry the "bruff" of it.. So with no complaints parents SHOULD seek help for themselves to help follow through with the sacrificies WE agreed on when we laid down to concieve OUR children. THERE ARE WAY TO MANY RESOURCES SET UP FOR THE BETTER JUDGMENT OF OUR CHILDRENS FUTURE! Get it together, OUR CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING...and they bring into our schools, our playgrounds, some even make it into our homes.... WHEN WILL U SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! after you pick ur face up from being slapped by a child liberating his/her self from being FEAR!

one1deep said on December 15, 2009 at 4:30 PM

Boondocksaint you are so RIGHT......your most compelling statment "the lazier parent you are the more you have to beat your kids". Parents let me break it down #1: To discipline your children out of anger (can lead to abuse) , secondly, TIme out is a not only a disciplinary tactic, but a time out for you as well to draw up a conclusion of an effective punishment (:KEY WORD EFFECTIVE)... Slapping a child in the face WILL NOT MERIT cooperation in the long run, but will intiate the beginning of an uproar of lashing out against the parent and the system. To discipline your children out of love and compassion is a HARD thing to do...I know a SINGLE mother of 3: but soooo much easier to haul off and slap them or beat them down...HOPEFUL that they will get the message of "fear not to do it again of you coming down on them again" NO, NO, NO. We are sadly mistaken.

raymon said on December 15, 2009 at 2:58 PM

Is this like the rice crispy joke!

jjvj43 said on December 15, 2009 at 2:58 PM

And they wonder why kids these days are the way they are, parents can even spank thier kids without worry about going to jail, I agree with the mom, if your child wants to act up!!! They should be whipped.

boondocksaint said on December 15, 2009 at 2:29 PM

Wow. I love you SMACK. I love you BAM! 80% of the people who have children should never have been allowed to. If you ever wonder why we live in such a VIOLENT , THIEVING, BACKSTABBING EVIL WORLD Well just look at what some people call LOVE________________________________ HA HA HA HA The lazier you are as a parent the more you have to beat your kids. Harley3 I went to get in my hole but you were there.

ctmygirls said on December 15, 2009 at 1:32 PM

Well maybe he'll clean his room, if not I wonder what's next????

designer23 said on December 15, 2009 at 12:13 PM

If your mom slapped you that much, looks like your mom was of the "aggressive race' you talked about earlier.

bellagio said on December 15, 2009 at 9:01 AM

Nothing wrong with disipline, child abuse and disipline is entirely two different things....I was smacked growing up, deserved every one of them, made me a better person...would have been nice if there had been info in the story about any previous "abuse" noticed by the school...apparently there wasn't....he probably smarted off to his mother (more than once) and she had enough of it and smacked him......personally, I think that since he thinks home is sooooo bad.....take him to the fire station/hospital/police station and drop him off.....or better yet, take him to the school and give him to the busy bodies that started the ball rolling.....let them deal with him...perfect example of why I don't have any kids and don't want any....no amount of money in the world would make me have a child at this point in time. State needs to stay out of child rearing, jails are running over as it is. Maybe I've just watched to many episodes of Cops featuring little Johnny's as teenagers/adults.

denise1970 said on December 14, 2009 at 10:34 PM

She should be slapped repeatedly by a slapping machine and her child working the machine. Done in front of the family.......lol. I can't believe she slapped him and told him to shut up. I vision this in my head and this child suffered. She needs to go to jail. I agree, just take something they like away for a while and that does the job.

worldman said on December 14, 2009 at 6:44 PM

I am wondering about the other children. Nothing is said here. One thing for sure, if you abuse a child in any way then the bond is small and you can get out and do it again. If you have drugs the bond is high and you have to rot in jail. What is wrong with this picture. Please find out about the other children. I suspect if one is abused then all have the same fate.

cd500033 said on December 14, 2009 at 6:32 PM

Well According to our Texas Penal Code she has not done anything wrong. § 9.61. PARENT-CHILD. (a) The use of force, but not deadly force, against a child younger than 18 years is justified: (1) if the actor is the child's parent or stepparent or is acting in loco parentis to the child; and (2) when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is necessary to discipline the child or to safeguard or promote his welfare. (b) For purposes of this section, "in loco parentis" includes grandparent and guardian, any person acting by, through, or under the direction of a court with jurisdiction over the child, and anyone who has express or implied consent of the parent or parents. Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

petejones said on December 14, 2009 at 5:53 PM

society's turned upside down. my day, hair brush, swats, etc. nobody ever complained about child abuse. i wasn't there so i can't say about this case. but if your gonna discipline your kid, hit em where the bruise isn't gonna show !!!!!

ilmpb said on December 14, 2009 at 5:28 PM

designer23 - I don't have to picture being slapped, it's happened - a number of times. Again, my mother did it because she loves me. And the practice of crying "abuse" when you are slapped is the kind of practice that raises children to be adults that sue because their coffee was too hot, or rob because the gov't doesn't provide enough. If your child does not need a spanking or a smack, then great! If your child acts up, disrespects you (real disrespect, not hurt your pride/feelings, that's different) or is on a bad path, then you need to take care of business. There's a fine line between discipline and abuse. Abuse is much more serious than a slap. The boy also complained that the mom made him stop crying. So what??? Is THAT abuse too??? This is certainly a waste of my tax dollars.

cruiserdave said on December 14, 2009 at 5:02 PM

I bet the next time that he is told to clean his room, he will run and do it. Stupid government, STAY OUT OF OUR PRIVATE LIVES!!!!!!

apple01 said on December 14, 2009 at 4:56 PM

i bet he was talking back. that is why she slapped him. He deserved it.

apple01 said on December 14, 2009 at 4:55 PM

This mother did nothing wrong. So what he had a bruise on the face. what whipping doesnt leave a lil bruise. thats the problem we are raising punks. i got whipped with extention cords and shoe switch and what ever else my mama could put her hands on. and i turned out great. degree. never been to jail. either you out your hand on your kids or the laws or going to put their hands on them.

freeminded said on December 14, 2009 at 4:54 PM

While I am not against spanking, I am slapping. I believe it is degrading and demoralizing. Maybe that is the reason she did it in from of the other children, She should get smacked.

harley3 said on December 14, 2009 at 4:45 PM

DISCIPLINE YOUR KIDS !!!!!!

harley3 said on December 14, 2009 at 4:30 PM

Boondocksaint I have 3 kids and they toe the line. I was brought up in a very large family and I know how what I’m talking about. You however – MUST BE AN ORPAN!! It’s NOT assaulting children – IT’S CALL DECAPLINING THEM – LEARN THE DIFFERENCE!! Boondocksaint – your need to call back into you hole!!

sh0ckg said on December 14, 2009 at 4:23 PM

And I quote the great Charlie Murphy... " And I bet he won't disrespect like that again......"

pipeliner said on December 14, 2009 at 3:57 PM

She may have went too far, but what led to this. Who knows what she goes through everyday. My mother told us we could send her to jail, but she bet she could out last us because we would get more tired of the whipping than she would going to jail. She said everytime we sent her to jail we would get it all over again. The Bible tells us to spare the rod, sppoil the child. So GOD knew how these kids would act if you let them get out of control. Take care of it parents, I say. Don't let someone else tell you how to raise your kids.

rocket_munkey said on December 14, 2009 at 3:49 PM

Im glad to hear daisymae is out on bond!

2papi said on December 14, 2009 at 3:09 PM

This new thing they call ( Time Out ) is for the birds!

designer23 said on December 14, 2009 at 3:09 PM

Being slapped across the face by your parent is not a booboo. It's abusive. Picture yourself being slapped across the face. It's the generation that grew up in the 50's that raised kids in dysfunctional family environments.

gaya121 said on December 14, 2009 at 3:08 PM

I agree that slapping across the face and leaving bruises crosses a line, but if kids were disciplined more they would not be so disrepectful. I'm not going to say I've never spanked my child, and once I even clipped his head for backtalking me, but he was always told why he was punished and it was never excessive...he's a typical teenage, and occassionally has an attitude, but he never argues with me and never backtalks a teacher.

2papi said on December 14, 2009 at 3:07 PM

If you raise your Babies right,There is a Great chance you won't have to beat them or take them out of jails later! But you have to teach them very early, and 'You' the parent have to be the example, the hero, the role model.Babies are just like tape recorders and camcorders,they absorb what they hear and see!

lalag said on December 14, 2009 at 3:03 PM

Time outs do not work for some children and they do not work for 10 year olds. Yes, this mother went overboard, if he had that much bruising, she crossed the line and probably should have put herself in time out (which I do all the time to be able to handle a situation calmly at a later time). The only times my children have been smacked in the mouth or face is when they forgot to turn on the filter between their brain and their mouth. And it has always been one single smack, never multiple.

ilmpb said on December 14, 2009 at 2:36 PM

you said it Kokey - times have changed, and we need discipline back. I'm not for beating your kid, but spanking w/ the occasional slap is no big deal. I was spanked as a kid and even slapped in the face a few times. My mother loves me and taught me how to be a productive, law abiding citizen. Not some cry baby that has to tattle every time I get a boo boo. Now, if the mom had given him a black eye or something, then yeah that's abuse.

boondocksaint said on December 14, 2009 at 2:22 PM

harley3 I say I have the right to tell you not to have children really. So who should stay out of assaulting children. You would not dare assault an adult would you. What other areas of your life are you violent. I can't say on here what ought to happen to adults who violenting attack children including their own. Sad. Ever wonder why adults turn out like they do. Duh

boondocksaint said on December 14, 2009 at 2:17 PM

Jfadams2 I have was never assaulted by an adult as a child or teenager and I was a SAINT till 20. So shut up with your violent tongue against children. That pig of a mom needs to be slapped by someone her own size and see if she likes it. If I was that child I would grow up and keep my house like a pig pen especially when she came over. Just amazing the assaults against children and people get away with it. But when it comes to adults you could not even SPIT ON THEM, without a possible assault charge. The jails are not full of kids who weren't spanked they are full of people who were beat on a daily basis.

designer23 said on December 14, 2009 at 1:46 PM

If the child is so out of hand that she cannot control him, there is something dysfunctional going on in the home. A parent slapping the child across the face, especially causing bruising will bring negative effects to the child in the long run.

madeintexas said on December 14, 2009 at 1:18 PM

I wonder if the teacher noticed bruises on the child before or if this was the first time. He had to be hit hard to sustain a bruise like that. Maybe the teacher should have set up a meeting with the counselor first and gotten all of the story. Sometime I think the school system and doctors jump to fast. I would like to hear the mothers side of the story. Maybe this is years of frustration, which still does not make it right, but maybe she needs help with this child.

commish said on December 14, 2009 at 1:17 PM

It's the parent's job to discipline their child... However they see fit... Slapping can be a bit overboard... But I'm not hype about the bruising. SOME kids bruise just from lying on their hand too long, or napping on a bad surface may leave a bruise... Some White kids, or fair skinned Black kids may bruise easily. Parent's should find another way (other than slapping) to get the point across to their child. HOWEVER, I can see where it might be necessary to get their attention for once... (just not everyday...) That being said, it's the school's job to report any suspected abuse. Both people did what they felt necessary at the time. Just a shame that it costs the parent sooo much more money. I betcha after seeing that, the other siblings did their chores w/out having to be slapped. I hope the kid makes it through this... Physically and Emotionally.

designer23 said on December 14, 2009 at 1:09 PM

Hitting anyone (including your child) across the face is abuse, physically and emotionally. There are other ways to "not spare the rod" with your children.

sdfsdfsdagfgh said on December 14, 2009 at 1:04 PM

that's why you need to slap him on the boot y... Nosy teachers won't notice that.

kokey said on December 14, 2009 at 12:53 PM

When I was a kid in the 50's it was common place for a parent to take a belt to your bottom and when one wasn't handy they gave you a good clip up side the head to get your attention. With that being said, it was also pretty unusual for a kid to give his/her parents back talk or to refuse to do whatever you were told to do. When this case gets settled I hope the mother takes this kid and his clothes down to the police station and drop him off for them to raise. Leaving a "red mark" on a kid is not abuse unless you're leaving them all over him and all the time. Christ, I had teachers that clocked you in the morning class and the ringing was still going on at the end of the day and believe me, no one was about to arrest the teacher. As a matter of fact, we did everything we could to keep our parents from finding out about it or else we'd catch another whipping at the house. Say whatever you want but I firmly believe that our LACK of discipline is causing us to become a bunch of wimps!!!

daninhouston said on December 14, 2009 at 12:48 PM

Not cleaning your room should result in the assault of a child. It is clear that if a doctor has determined that abuse has accured, then we should not allow this to continue. One child is dead today because of unkown abuse of the child. This is an assumption since no other information has been revealed. But we must learn to control our anger. Especially when it come to a child. One boy this week has been arrested for murder. The probablity that he has been in an abusive family will prevail. Stop the abuse and show only love for your flesh.

samuel2008 said on December 14, 2009 at 12:45 PM

I do believe that yes our children do need to be looked after.We have so many children raising children now days or mothers who have no support that mistakes happen. I know that there is nothing a child can do that says it is okay to abuse.... Do i think if this is the first time she lost it she should of went to jail no....but should someone be appointed to help her learn how to handel stress and to mother yes. It has always been funny to me which cases get the notice...we have all heard of the cases where the children are clearly being abuse and yet nothing is done... There is always something else there a mother just dosen't say today I think I will abuse you.... NO EXCUSE TO HIT

designer23 said on December 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM

Slapping a child across the face until he's bruised will cause the child to be a worse child/adult than what the mother anticipates.

harley3 said on December 14, 2009 at 12:19 PM

The kid probably got what he deserved!!!!

i_do_the_numbers said on December 14, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Maybe slapping a child in the face is a little beyond discipline, because I do believe in spanking. However, I don't know the circumstances, maybe the kid needed to be slapped. I hope that it is not child abuse.

harley3 said on December 14, 2009 at 12:16 PM

The Mom (Parents) has every right to discipline their kids. That’s what wrong with our society today NOT ENOUGH SPANKING!!!!!!!!!! The schools (whom are to chicken to do anything) and law enforcement agency need to stay out of these types of matters. I bet Ms Hartman could not afford the $50,000 bond.

missprissy said on December 14, 2009 at 12:02 PM

Whatever happened to TIME OUT? I too am not against spanking, but spanking and leaving bruises are two differnt things. Anytime there are marks left, then that constitutes a little too much force. It is things like this that keep children from being abused by their parents. She may have been within reason to punish him, but she should have chose the bottom and not the face.

rouge said on December 14, 2009 at 12:02 PM

What is the kid going to learn from being slapped in the face? nothing...just more violence. The mom could've easily told him he won't get to do one of his favorite things (games, TV, etc) until the room was cleaned. It would be interesting to see what the mom has to say about this. What about the dad...is he around?

broadmindedbroad said on December 14, 2009 at 11:47 AM

While I am not against spanking (within reason), I AM against slapping, ESPECIALLY to the point of causing visible bruising! That must have been a VERY HARD slap! Slapping is insulting, degrading and debasing to the psyche. It crosses the line from physical abuse into emotional abuse. Again, I am NOT against spanking (within reason), though I think sending them to their rooms without any form of entertainment is much more effective. It was with my sons.

texdude said on December 14, 2009 at 11:46 AM

OK kiddies, this wasn't just a smack upside the head. Mommy had to hit him extremely hard and repeatedly to leave bruising. There is a line that apparently was crossed. I am not one of those parents who never spanked their kids but if somebody is hitting their child across the face and head to the extent there is bruising, that's a problem.

houstonman56 said on December 14, 2009 at 11:40 AM

Sorry for the double post, didn't appear to go through.

jfadams2 said on December 14, 2009 at 11:35 AM

Well, well, poor little Johnny is abused! All this could have been avoided had he done what he was TOLD! He needs to be introduced to the board of education! The so called authorities should stay out of it. T hat is what is wrong with our youth now!

firedog said on December 14, 2009 at 11:34 AM

guess now she will want to kill him!!!!!!

houstonman56 said on December 14, 2009 at 11:32 AM

So whats the mother's side of the story??

houstonman56 said on December 14, 2009 at 11:30 AM

So what is the mother's side of the story?