Dustin, 35, and Katie Maletich, 32, fromOregon, sparked a widespread debate after a TikTok video showcasing their unique parenting technique went viral. The video featured their nine-year-old son, Tommy, being disciplined through physical exercise after he spoke disrespectfully to his mother. This approach to punishment, shared under the username @raisingmaletich, has led to a fierce division among online viewers.

The incident, captured by an at-home camera, began when Tommy argued with his mother, Katie, over using her phone. When Katie told him to stop, Tommy retorted with, ''OK, chill.'' This remark immediately caught the attention of his father, Dustin, who sternly asked, ''Did you just tell your mum to chill?'' Without hesitation, Dustin instructed Tommy to perform push-ups. Initially, Tommy managed ten, but Dustin pushed him to complete twenty. Following the push-ups, the exhausted nine-year-old was then tasked with performing a remarkable sixty squats.

Photo Credit: Daily Mail

After the physical exertion, Dustin reinforced the lesson, telling his son, ''Do we tell mum to 'chill out'? Absolutely not. I wouldn't let anybody else talk to her like that so you don't get to talk to her like that.'' The video concluded with Tommy apologizing to his mother, and Dustin expressing his love for his son, followed by a hug, emphasizing that the discipline was rooted in affection and respect.

Katie Maletich, sharing the footage online, praised her husband's parenting, stating, ''I will never stop being grateful to be raising kids with a real man who knows how to be a father, especially to his boys. This is masculinity.'' The video garnered over 1.4 million views, igniting a significant discussion about the appropriateness of using physical activity as a form of punishment.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the couple defended their actions. Dustin explained that the exercises were not overly strenuous for Tommy, as the family regularly works out together for fun. He noted Tommy's immediate remorse, stating, ''You can tell right away when I ask him, 'What did you say?' that he knew he had messed up.'' Dustin believes physical exercise helps Tommy ''refocus when he feels that he doesn’t have control over his body and mind which always makes him more reception to healthy communication.''