A couple from Oregon, Dustin, 35, and Katie Maletich, 32, gained widespread attention on TikTok after sharing a video of their unique parenting technique involving physical exercise as a form of punishment for their nine-year-old son, Tommy. The incident, recorded by an at-home camera, showed Tommy arguing with his mother over wanting to use her phone, to which he responded, “OK, chill.” This remark prompted Dustin to ask, “Did you just tell your mum to chill?”

Without hesitation, Dustin instructed Tommy to perform 20 push-ups, initially stopping at ten before being encouraged to complete the full set. Following the push-ups, the father then informed Tommy that he would also have to do 60 squats. After the exercises were completed, Dustin calmly explained, “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.” Tommy then apologized to his mother, Katie, and the video concluded with Dustin telling his son, “I love you,” followed by a hug.

Katie shared the footage on TikTok under the username @raisingmaletich, captioning it, “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 quickly amassed over 1.4 million views, sparking a fierce debate among social media users.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Dustin and Katie defended their approach. Dustin clarified that the physical exercises were not exceptionally difficult for Tommy, as the family regularly works out together for fun, and their son is accustomed to such exertion. He noted that Tommy immediately recognized his mistake and is generally remorseful. Dustin also praised his son for apologizing without being prompted and highlighted that the moment “ended with love.”

From Dustin’s perspective, the physical activity serves as a means for Tommy to “refocus when he feels that he doesn’t have control over his body and mind which always makes him more reception to healthy communication.” The couple expressed surprise at the video’s viral reaction, considering it a “tender parenting moment.” Dustin shared that this corrective parenting method held special significance for Katie, who grew up in a home characterized by “toxicity, emotionally reactive parenting, yelling and anger,” making her feel “inspired” by Dustin’s approach.

Responding to the online backlash, Dustin asserted that every parent chooses methods they “see fit,” as long as no intentional harm is inflicted upon the child. The couple stated their ultimate goal is to raise Tommy into a “healthy, happy, resilient and respectful human.” The online community remained divided, with some users commending the “tough love” and “holding children accountable” aspect of their parenting, while others disagreed with the use of physical exercise as a disciplinary measure.