Seven year olds refuse to do a lot of things. Often is it irrational. My daughter when she was young refused to wear anything with polka dots.
The father overreacted. He sounds like he has bigger problems.
The only relevant question is whether the punishment constituted unlawful abuse rather than simply punishment. Certainly defying parents is grounds for punishment, but nothing is grounds for abuse. Obviously, the mother thought it was abuse ... who am I to question her without more information?
Go Packers!
I bet there was alcohol involved. Which trailer park was this at?
I am all for tying up children that are disobedient. And I have no philosophical objection to taping on a jersey. However, everyone needs to be careful not to over look an important fact in this story - this wasn't simply regular jersey, it was a Packer jersey. To be forced to wear the Packer label most certainly rises to the level of abuse.