Baltimore Riots Mom Toya Graham -- Oprah Gave Me Thumbs Up For Smackdown On My Son

It's one thing for the media to call you mother of the year -- but the so-called "Baltimore Riots mom" got an even better stamp of approval ... from Oprah Winfrey.

We just talked to Toya Graham and her son, Michael Singleton, in NYC ... where she's become a media darling for her now famous public shaming -- and butt-whupping -- of her son when he attempted to join rioters in Baltimore this week.

Toya told us about all the cool people she's met in person since the run-in -- but explained why the phone call from Oprah topped them all. She also revealed what big O had to say about her parenting skills.

Best of all ... Toya tells us exactly what kind of punishment Michael's getting at home.

Lesson learned ... we guarantee.