A Louisiana mother has triggered a fierce debate online after she posted a video revealing she teaches her children to physically defend themselves against bullies.
Brittany Norris, 27, shared the video on TikTok where she firmly stated that she is not raising her kids to run to the teacher when they’re hit.
“If someone hits my kid, I’m not raising them to go tell the teacher. Not raising a snitch. Handle it yourself, hit back, defend yourself, and if that’s not enough, I will interfere.”
The clip quickly went viral, gaining tens of thousands of likes and hundreds of comments. Some praised her boldness while others called her out for promoting violence.
Norris did not hold back and added,
“If that’s controversial, I don’t really care. Hit back harder. Thank you.”
Her stance sparked both support and backlash, with people fiercely divided on whether children should be taught to retaliate.
Supporters believe Norris is simply promoting resilience and self-defense. One person commented,
“I was always told, never throw the first punch but you better finish it.”
Another viewer added,
“Defending yourself is a skill you need in the real world and they don’t teach you that in school.”
Others claimed that bullying thrives on silence and that self-defense can deter aggressors more effectively than seeking help.
However, not everyone agreed. A number of parents and educators pushed back, arguing that promoting violence is never the answer.
“This energy is gross. Hitting people isn’t OK,” one critic wrote.
“Doing the same thing back doesn’t make sense.”
A person claiming to be an elementary teacher said the mindset leads to uncontrolled fighting among students.
“This is the mindset of nearly every parent and fighting is out of control. We won’t even know students are having problems because they won’t tell us. They will just fight.”
The parenting debate deepened further after Norris explained that her video was about her five-year-old daughter and her decision to raise her to be strong.
In her follow-up comments, she said,
“I would rather be in the principal’s office because my child stood up for herself.”
“Telling the teacher is good for long-term conflict management, but doesn’t go far toward immediate resolution,” she added.
Some child development experts have offered a more balanced view, saying the debate cuts straight to core values like safety, autonomy, and dignity.
They advise parents to first teach peaceful methods like saying stop, walking away, or asking for help.
But they also acknowledge that some parents want their children to be fighters who can defend themselves when necessary.
One expert noted,
“That may be the warrior you want to raise, but then you owe it to your kid to talk about how they may get punished for it.”
The larger conversation seems to go beyond the playground and dives into how parents instill core beliefs about strength, respect, and protection.
For Brittany Norris, the decision is already made.
“Stick up for yourself,” she said.
And if fists fly, she’s not sending her child to the teacher. She’s sending them back into the fray.
Featured image Credit: (tiktok/brittanynorris)
