A mother, Alexandra Sabol, shared a video online of her preparing breakfast for her one-year-old daughter, and what she served quickly sparked a viral debate. The clip, which has accumulated over 12.3 million views, shows Sabol giving her child three small powdered doughnuts alongside a fruit sauce packet.
The breakfast choice left many viewers shocked, with some labeling Sabol as a “lazy parent” for offering what they saw as an unhealthy meal. Critics pointed out that preparing eggs and fruit would have been both more nutritious and required little effort. Negative comments poured in, with some branding Sabol as a “bare minimum” parent, insisting that her child deserved a better meal. One commenter even exclaimed, “This can’t be real.”
As the video gained traction, Sabol was given the nickname “Doughnut Mom,” which led to heated debates surrounding the expectations placed on mothers. However, another TikTok user, Bailey McPher, soon came to her defense.
McPher highlighted the double standards at play, suggesting that mothers like Sabol, who don’t fit the mold of popular influencers, often face harsher criticism. She pointed out that many influencers, who stock their shopping carts with unhealthy items, are rarely scrutinized because they meet conventional beauty standards. McPher argued that these judgments are unfair, especially when a mother is just showing a glimpse of her real, everyday life.
McPher emphasized that motherhood has its ups and downs. Some days, parents might resort to easy meals like doughnuts, cake pops, or french fries, and that’s okay. She reflected on her own experiences as a mom, admitting that not every day is perfect, but that doesn’t make someone a bad parent.
She also stressed that Sabol was being unfairly judged based on one short video and urged others to consider looking through her entire profile before jumping to conclusions. Saddened by the negative comments, McPher shared that she had unfollowed other moms who had been particularly unkind toward Sabol.
In McPher’s eyes, no parent is at their best every single day. While feeding a child doughnuts daily might not be ideal, she felt that judgment based on such a brief clip was unjust. She reminded viewers that parenting is not about being perfect, but about doing the best you can for your children.
Meanwhile, another mother, Ruth, with the TikTok handle @lifewithruthandjordan, faced her own share of controversy over a video she posted of her daughter folding clothes as punishment for not doing the chore earlier. Ruth canceled her daughter’s playdate and insisted the child complete her task first. The video stirred mixed reactions, with some feeling that Ruth was too harsh and should have simply rescheduled the playdate. Others, however, supported Ruth’s approach, saying it was important to teach children responsibility.
@lifewithruthandjordan I’m a Mexican mom of course ill cancel the playdate!! #mexicanmom #choresfirst #noallowence #momlife #momlifebelike #girlmom
Some critics worried that the punishment could create negative associations with chores for Ruth’s daughter, while others were more concerned about the mother filming the moment. On the other hand, several viewers praised Ruth, agreeing that children need to learn to contribute to household chores and take responsibility for their belongings.
Ruth stood firm in her decision, explaining that everyone in her household was expected to pitch in. The video garnered over 140,000 comments, illustrating how parenting styles can often provoke strong opinions online.
These stories reveal how different parenting approaches can spark debate, with each parent having their unique method for teaching lessons. Despite the controversies, both Sabol and Ruth’s videos highlight the challenges and judgments parents face in the digital age, where every choice can be scrutinized by millions.
