Meanest mom on the planet...

Bungleau · 01-09-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Mom sells rule-breaking son's car

DES MOINES, Iowa - Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet."

After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

The ad reads: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

Hambleton has heard from people besides interested buyers since recently placing the ad in The Des Moines Register.

The 48-year-old from Fort Dodge says she has fielded more than 70 telephone calls from emergency room technicians, nurses, school counselors and even a Georgia man who wanted to congratulate her.

"The ad cost a fortune, but you know what? I'm telling people what happened here," Hambleton says. "I'm not just gonna put the car for resale when there's nothing wrong with it, except the driver made a dumb decision.

"It's overwhelming the number of calls I've gotten from people saying 'Thank you, it's nice to see a responsible parent.' So far there are no calls from anyone saying, 'You're really strict. You're real overboard, lady.'"

The only critic is her son, who Hambleton says is "very, very unhappy" with the ad and claims the alcohol was left by a passenger.

Hambleton believes her son but has decided mercy isn't the best policy in this case. She says she set two rules when she bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep it locked.

The car has been sold, but Hambleton says she will continue the ad for another week — just for the feedback.

So... whaddayathink? Mean mom, or tough love? She set the rules, and they were broken. And remember, all our friends in Europe and the rest of the world... here in the States, we teach people to drive *before* we teach them to drink.

pritchke · 01-09-2008, 12:21 PM

I would say tough love and a responsible parent. He broke the rules, and let his friend convince him to give him a drive with the booze.

Firestormalpha · 01-09-2008, 01:42 PM

I'd have to side with the mom on this one.

Dragonshadow · 01-09-2008, 02:16 PM

True, he broke the rules and alcohol in cars is never a good idea, so fair enough that he get punished. But I do think on one level she may have been pushing the punishment a little too far, deciding to tell the whole world about it.

Firestormalpha · 01-09-2008, 02:18 PM

Perhaps, but it's no worse than the celebrities get with the tabloids watching their every move.

Variol (Farseer) Elmwood · 01-09-2008, 05:12 PM

..better than burying the kid in the car..

Arvon · 01-09-2008, 06:43 PM

Mom did two things with this. She got a DUI off the road and taught the kid that there are rules to live by.

Winter Wolf · 01-09-2008, 09:50 PM

This reminds me of a funny incident that happened to a former classmate. She went home drunk one time in high school and got caught by her parents. They took her down to the police station to get a breathalyzer test.

As to the article, I didn't see where it said who paid for the car originally. Now, I'm gonna have to guess that it was the parents' money that got the car, in part at least, so that makes it perfectly within rights for her to sell the thing. It's a hard lesson for the kid, but maybe he'll learn something from it.

Bungleau · 01-09-2008, 10:17 PM

Second to last paragraph... she set two rules when she bought him the car at Thanksgiving...

As I think about it, it's a lot less costly to have Mom take away your car than to have the nice officers take away your car... and possibly your freedom, too.

Felix The Assassin · 01-09-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winter Wolf

This reminds me of a funny incident that happened to a former classmate. She went home drunk one time in high school and got caught by her parents. They took her down to the police station to get a breathalyzer test.

As to the article, I didn't see where it said who paid for the car originally. Now, I'm gonna have to guess that it was the parents' money that got the car, in part at least, so that makes it perfectly within rights for her to sell the thing. It's a hard lesson for the kid, but maybe he'll learn something from it.

Ah, but WW, it's in the print. Did it go fuzzy whilst you read it?

"Hambleton believes her son but has decided mercy isn't the best policy in this case. She says she set two rules when she bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep it locked."

01-09-2008, 12:21 PM	#2
pritchke Bastet - Egyptian Cat Goddess Join Date: September 5, 2001 Location: Calgary, AB Age: 50 Posts: 3,491	Re: Meanest mom on the planet... I would say tough love and a responsible parent. He broke the rules, and let his friend convince him to give him a drive with the booze.

01-09-2008, 01:42 PM	#3
Firestormalpha Knight of the Rose Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: Coral Springs, Fl USA Age: 41 Posts: 4,454	Re: Meanest mom on the planet... I'd have to side with the mom on this one. __________________ "When you start with a presupposition, it's hard to arrive at any other conclusion." "We are never to judge a philosophy by its abuse." - Augustine "If you're wondering if God has a sense of humor, consider the platypus." http://www.greaterthings.cbglades.com

01-09-2008, 02:16 PM	#4
Dragonshadow Quth-Maren Join Date: February 17, 2003 Location: Portsmouth Age: 35 Posts: 4,145	Re: Meanest mom on the planet... True, he broke the rules and alcohol in cars is never a good idea, so fair enough that he get punished. But I do think on one level she may have been pushing the punishment a little too far, deciding to tell the whole world about it. __________________ aka Loc der Graf, Quillruke

01-09-2008, 02:18 PM	#5
Firestormalpha Knight of the Rose Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: Coral Springs, Fl USA Age: 41 Posts: 4,454	Re: Meanest mom on the planet... Perhaps, but it's no worse than the celebrities get with the tabloids watching their every move. __________________ "When you start with a presupposition, it's hard to arrive at any other conclusion." "We are never to judge a philosophy by its abuse." - Augustine "If you're wondering if God has a sense of humor, consider the platypus." http://www.greaterthings.cbglades.com

01-09-2008, 05:12 PM	#6
Variol (Farseer) Elmwood Jack Burton Join Date: May 16, 2003 Location: Dartmouth, NS Canada Age: 60 Posts: 5,634	Re: Meanest mom on the planet... ..better than burying the kid in the car.. __________________ A MAN WHO WANTS FOR NOTHING HAS INFINITE WEALTH. (me)

01-09-2008, 06:43 PM	#7
Arvon Unicorn Join Date: October 4, 2001 Location: Kingdom of the West,..P.o. Cynagus Posts: 4,212	Re: Meanest mom on the planet... Mom did two things with this. She got a DUI off the road and taught the kid that there are rules to live by. __________________ 53.7% of all statistics are made up

01-09-2008, 09:50 PM	#8
Winter Wolf Manshoon Join Date: November 4, 2004 Location: Shanghai, China Posts: 226	Re: Meanest mom on the planet... This reminds me of a funny incident that happened to a former classmate. She went home drunk one time in high school and got caught by her parents. They took her down to the police station to get a breathalyzer test. As to the article, I didn't see where it said who paid for the car originally. Now, I'm gonna have to guess that it was the parents' money that got the car, in part at least, so that makes it perfectly within rights for her to sell the thing. It's a hard lesson for the kid, but maybe he'll learn something from it. __________________ Calling a person a dog is just about the worst insult I can think of. Dogs deserve better than that.

01-09-2008, 10:17 PM	#9
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Re: Meanest mom on the planet... Second to last paragraph... she set two rules when she bought him the car at Thanksgiving... As I think about it, it's a lot less costly to have Mom take away your car than to have the nice officers take away your car... and possibly your freedom, too. __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

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