Glued toddler’s mom says children were a stress

DALLAS - A young Dallas mother of five who glued her toddler's hands to a wall during a beating says her children were a continuing source of stress in her life.

Elizabeth Escalona was in her second day of testimony Thursday during a sentencing hearing. The 23-year-old faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty in July to injury to a child. Prosecutors are seeking a 45-year sentence.

Under questioning from prosecutor Eren Price, Escalona acknowledged her children occasionally misbehaved and she sometimes "needed a little break."

Escalona admitted she smoked marijuana about twice a day before the September 2011 attack on Jocelyn Cedillo.

Escalona's other children told authorities their mother attacked Jocelyn because of potty training problems. The girl sustained multiple injuries in the attack and was hospitalized for days.