A Louisiana father went viral after sharing his unconventional way of disciplining his son for repeatedly getting in trouble at school. He made the boy run while explaining that he wasn’t sorry for making him exercise, and TikTok had plenty to say about his approach.
Uploaded to TikTok by @clarence_white32, the video shows the father and son running down a street. His son can be heard crying and apologizing off camera. “Sorry for what, Ari? That’s just like me telling you I’m sorry for making you run 100,000 laps. I’m not sorry, buddy,” his father responds.
He explains that the punishment is because of his son repeatedly acting out at school, including putting his hands on a teacher, yelling out, and getting up without permission, telling him plainly that this will happen every time he gets in trouble. The Louisiana man then tells his son to pick his feet up, and the boy screams before starting to run again.
TikTok Reacts
Praise for the father dominated the comments, with many viewers seeing his approach as accountability rather than being too harsh. “That’s not a dad, that’s a FATHER!!!” one commenter wrote. Another saw the discipline as a way of protecting his son’s future, saying, “Discipline today keeps him out of jail in the future, great job pops.”
Several educators weighed in specifically because the behavior involved a teacher. “As a teacher, I appreciate this so much,” one shared.
Some commenters empathized with how difficult the moment likely was for the Louisiana father himself, even while supporting his decision. “As a parent hearing your child cry is hard. But I commend you on holding him accountable and being there to teach him right and wrong. Good job Dad,” one wrote.
Not every reaction was fully on board, though. A handful of commenters questioned whether making the boy run was an appropriate form of discipline. “I get what you’re trying to do, but I don’t agree with exercise as a punishment,” one argued. Another was more direct, writing that the method was “towing that line real hard” between discipline and abuse.
Parents show up for their kids in different ways, and not every approach is going to work for every family. Even if viewers didn’t agree with his method, it was clear how much concern he had for his son and his future.
