A Mom After My Own Heart

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by RightHand, Jan 10, 2008.


  1. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

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


    The Associated Press
    updated 7:52 p.m. ET, Wed., Jan. 9, 2008


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    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.


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

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    When I was sixteen, I had a 64 corvette. I loved that car. The only stipulation that I had on ownership of a high-performance automobile was that I had to pay all expenses associated with it; gas, tires, insurance, maintenance. That was no problem because I was making a lot more money than the average sixteen year old by playing in a pretty hot local band. The second stipulation was that my father, who's name it was titled in because I was a minor, said that if he ever found out that I was drinking, the car would be gone. I did not drink, as a teenager; just never cared for it but I did give my drummer a ride home from a gig one night and he threw a beer can behind the seat. I drove my van to school because we were setting up to play at a home-coming party, when I got home that night, my car was gone and my father was sitting at the table with an empty beer can in front of him. I made a joke and asked if he was taking up drinking, but he didn't seem amused. I asked him where my car was and simply said that he had sold it that day because he found the empty beer can in the back.
    He wouldn't even give me the money for it and he sold it for next to nothing, to prove his point.
    I was very angry about this and did some foolish things that I now regret. I am 52 years old and I still feel badly about my reactions. He might have been a little extreme but I respect his decision more now than I did then. I still don't drink and I never have developed a taste for beer because of that incident.
     
  3. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    It takes a very dedicated parent to follow through on the rules. As an adult, I applaud your dad. If I had been asked the same question at 16 yo, you know that I would have thought you dad was the devil incarnate.
     
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