People from all over the world noticed Jenn Brown’s parenting style after she shared her boys’ punishment on social media. The primary school warned Jenn that her children were exhibiting “bad bus behavior,” leading her to believe she had the solution. While some appreciated her innovation, others slammed the mother, who faced widespread criticism.
Jenn determined that if her seven- and ten-year-old sons couldn’t behave themselves on the bus, they wouldn’t be riding. Instead, they would walk, no matter the weather. So, to teach them a lesson, the mother made the children walk to school one morning. No one would have known if the mother hadn’t snapped a photo and shared it on Facebook. But that’s precisely what she did, and it quickly went viral.
As a punishment for misbehaving, the photo showed her children heading to school with a banner that said, “Being bad and rude to our bus driver. Mom is making us walk.” Jenn’s sons had been informed they wouldn’t be allowed back on the bus if their conduct didn’t change, so she chose to take a stern approach to emphasize the importance of appreciating the privilege. Unfortunately, not everyone agreed with her approach.
“This was my reaction as a parent, and I felt I needed to do it to help them understand that taking the bus is a privilege, not a right,” Brown told CTV News Windsor. “Is it too far to ask them to travel 7.2 kilometers? Yes. But I had no option but to give them a lesson,” she said, justifying her harsh love. The lads walked to school for two hours, covering slightly under 4.5 miles. But that’s not what enraged the parenting police on Facebook.
Jenn Brown walks along the route she made her son take to school. (Photo: Screen Capture/CTV News Windsor)
According to Brown, it was her friend’s suggestion to use the sign, which appears to have sparked the strongest criticism from those who did not agree. She thought it was a beneficial idea because it would keep people from stopping and offering the boys a lift. However, the sign and her choice to publish the photo on social media sparked the issue, with many calling it “shaming” and chastising the mother for it.
The mother regretted posting the photograph, which she had not intended to go viral. “Did I imagine that so many people would be interested in seeing me carry my kids to school? Not. If this was the outcome, would I have shared it on Facebook? “No,” Brown said, as reported by iHeart Radio. “Have I learned my lesson?” Yes, the power of social media is immense, and when someone reads a tale, they choose what they want and create their own story.”
However, not everyone disapproved. Brown also garnered a significant amount of appreciation. “I started getting friend requests; I can’t tell you how many inbox messages I got from all over, telling me good job and good for you,” recalls the woman. After everything was said and done, she stated that the two-hour walk provided her boys with meaningful time together, and she even received a note from the bus driver thanking her for teaching her boys a lesson.
Jenn Brown displays the “Thank You” card that she received from the bus driver. (Photo: Screen Capture/CTV News Windsor)
“It made me feel like I was actively taking a stance on what my kids are doing,” Brown told me. “He felt grateful that I was trying to straighten them out,” she said, referring to the bus driver. “Would I do it again? Yes. ” “With the sign, no,” Brown replied, acknowledging that she had been the one carrying it for the majority of the walk.
Regarding the charges that she “shamed” her children, Brown stated that she would never willfully do so. But, even if she did make her children feel “shame,” is it necessarily a negative outcome? Should harmful actions elicit feelings of remorse?
Perhaps a little guilt might help adults and children learn valuable lessons. After all, enraged social media users chose to ridicule the mother, which had the desired effect. She regretted her actions and resolved to do things differently the next time. The punishment her boys received seems to have had the same effect on her.