I am not a fan either but I think Maria has tried her best, taken time off work and was busy doing things with Liam. But any child would prefer to go to a school disco instead of being home with just mum, and Liam had probably been looking forward to the disco as well, surely a couple of hours with his friends does not make Maria a bad mother. Also, would Liam understand what it means for Maria to go to prison at his age?