So for background, I am young. I work with incredibly impoverished young parents. I empathize with them- but it is simply not acceptable to have children and ignore them. I don't have any children yet because I know I cannot afford them, financially or emotionally. I see this fairly often; a young, poor woman is fatalistic about contraception (if I had a dollar for every time someone told me "You can't really *plan* for a child, if it happens it happens"), gets pregnant, loves the child because most parents love their children, but deeply resents the child for 'stealing' their own adolescence. This mother may be in a tough situation, but she put herself in it. This is not Jennifer Aniston or a prepared single woman choosing to have a child. Yet this mom has a decent amount of money by my standards- the apartment is clean, there are many toys, she has professionally colored hair. "Anything I ****ing need, I get myself"- then she must be paid very well, because most people do not "f***ing need" two hours a night at a private gym (with child care!). She makes herself a martyr- you're *supposed* to do what you have to for your kids! You're not supposed to "beat the ***" of a toddler- you have to teach him!I applaud Jo for telling this woman, as she tells many parents, "This is your responsibility to your child and society- step up". I was so glad to hear her say "What about when he's robbing a store or beating his wife?" because that is absolutely where those adult activities are rooted, in a lack of learned impulse control. Jo teaches discipline that doesn't inflict fear, but shows the child that 'society' (his family, at that point in his life) will shun violent or obnoxious behavior. Someone needed to teach Ashley that, and I think Jo, as usual, did a wonderful job of teaching the parent and the child.

The thing I don't like about this program generally is that its too much on the surface. There is obviously something terrifically wrong with this kid and or the way he was raised and the show doesn't really touch on it. He's a little psychopath. Perhaps it has something to do with the absence of a father or male authority or maybe something biochemical. But whatever the source there is something off here and Joe doesn't really address it. He is an angry, violent, hateful boy. Time out is not the answer. There is a much larger problem here the show doesn't come anywhere near touchingI also normally subscribe to the notion that violence breeds violence in child rearing and that stern and steady usually wins the day but watching this you have got to ask yourself if an honest reaction on the part of the mother to the horrible behavior wouldn't shock the kid. He is so used to her doing nothing. And to everyone who is blaming her, go f___ yourselves. This is an amazingly difficult situation. She is clearly trying to get ahead by working and studying so that she can provide for her children. This country gives next to no support to people in her situation. She isn't asking for help and she isn't getting any. She's doing it herself. That she hasn't beaten the hell out of these kids and had them removed from her home to the foster care system is a miracle.

I give this mom outstanding props. I would beat that little boy without thinking twice about it. I feel like Jo doesnt understand what some parents go through. This mom is a single parent who does nothing but work and do school and in between takes care of her bratty kids. I don't believe it is that bad for her to take some of her time to go to the gym. 9pm is not too late for kids to go to bed. Just saying.