When someone’s mama bear instinct kicks in, you better watch out. Many moms will go full Hulk on a kid who inflicts any kind of harm on their kids. They don’t care about the repercussions; they just know that they did what they had to do to make sure their own kid was OK. And even though it’s a very admirable quality to have, it’s not always the smartest or safest thing to do because sometimes you can get in trouble. Tiffany Griffith, a mom in Florida, is facing charges after she allegedly dunked a kid underwater in a hotel pool after the child allegedly splashed her son too much.
Just after 4:30 p.m. on December 19, 2025, deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of battery involving a child, the department shared in a statement.
“Witnesses reported that three children were playing in the pool when the splashing became aggressive,” the statement read. That’s when 36-year-old Griffith went into the pool, confronting a 6-year-old boy who allegedly dunked her own 6-year-old son underwater.
“The suspect then placed her hands on the victim’s shoulders and forcibly dunked him underwater for several seconds.” After Griffith let the child go, he left the pool “visibly upset” and with a nosebleed, the sheriff’s office noted.
Griffith then reportedly followed the boy before yelling at his mother, a charging affidavit obtained by People read. A man then apparently removed Griffith from the pool. It is unclear if her son was injured in the incident.
While talking with authorities, Griffith said she entered the pool to protect her son, who she said is nonverbal and has autism, from being “drowned” by another child.
When police showed her security footage of her apparently dunking the boy underwater, Griffith said, “I was protecting my son,” the affidavit read, per People. She did express remorse for her actions later.
Griffith has been charged with cruelty to a child — aggravated child abuse. She was scheduled to appear in court on December 22.
