Meanest mom’ sells car after finding liquor

[lily]

:thumbsup: (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22578679/)

‘Meanest mom’ sells car after finding liquor
Iowa woman shares teen son’s misdeed with the world via newspaper ad



updated 7:52 p.m. ET, Wed., Jan. 9, 2008
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 said she 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.

[Alonzo]

Why are parents buying a 19 year old a car to begin with? Shouldn't that be up to the kid in the first place?

[Pookie]

Geez, Zo, yeah! Back in the day, we worked and earned money for everything we wanted. Now they're handed out like so much candy. I think this Mom did a wonderful job, and too bad the kid's miffed. He knew the rules.
Way to go, Mean Mom!
Purrs,
Pookie

[underdawg]

I have seen too many kids given a brand new car as a teenager only to have it wrecked a few weeks later. I think it is great that she sold that car for finding alcohol. She probably saved him from being the cause of a drunk driving accident. Kids need to learn how to be responsible. Buying kids a car seems to be doing them no good, it just seems to create spoiled brats.

[Pookie]

Yep! That's right. Better a pissed-off kid than grieving parents. The kid will get over being mad.
Purrs to the Mean Mom,
Pookie

[Truth_and_Power]

Why are parents buying a 19 year old a car to begin with? Shouldn't that be up to the kid in the first place?


I don't think buying a '99 olds is going too far on the generous side. My family bought me a grocery getter for about 3 grand when I was 18 and it was a lifesaver.

[Alonzo]

I don't know truth. The first car for a 16 year old yes. I'm not saying the parents should buy it, but it would be very normal for me. My parents bought me a car at 16. But after that it typically should be up to the kid. He's 19, probably out of high school and either in college or out of school. He should have the money to buy his own car by then.

[Professor]

Why are parents buying a 19 year old a car to begin with? Shouldn't that be up to the kid in the first place?


I don't think buying a '99 olds is going too far on the generous side. My family bought me a grocery getter for about 3 grand when I was 18 and it was a lifesaver.


My parents bought me my first car too. It was for my high school graduation in 2003. It was a 1990 Cutless Seria. I still have it. I've gotten into a few car crashes, mostly involving icy roads. None of them have been my fault (as deemed by the law) and none have involved alcohol.

I'm honestly surprised she hasn't gotten any negative calls from teen agers, "Dude, that's like totally lame."

[lily]

My parents bought me my first car too. It was for my high school graduation in 2003.

That's when my husband and I bought the one and only car for our kids......well......not in 2003, but for their graduations.

[Cobra]

My parents bought me a new car. Had it for about two years now, haven't wrecked yet. It was genrous.

[underdawg]

Well when I was a kid my parents wouldn't even let me use their car to learn to drive on. They told me if I wanted to drive I had to save and buy my own car first. I didn't learn to drive until I was 24 when I bought my first car.

[Professor]

I was discussing this with a friend and she brought up a valid point, what if a prospective employer somehow connects the ad to the kid? I think the only way would be through the phone number, but that would still be a devastating thing to have happen. She said for that, the mom went too far.

Thoughts??