OK, do you have children? Time outs do work.. if it didnt why do so many parents still use that method? When a child is too old for "time-outs" then grounding can take effect. As I said before, I do not agree with spanking much less smacking!
Both sides need aid... the mother and the son.
Im glad the mother at least seeked help, I hope both of them can live a happier life. It takes a big person to be able to say "things are out of control" I feel badly about their whole situation. As a mother I cant imagine loosing a child and then still having to be there as a good mother to my living child... especially considering she openly said she favored the girl.