PDA

View Full Version : "Meanest Mom on the Planet"


Madre
01-09-2008, 06:42 PM
Meanest Mom on the Planet Sells Son's Car

Des Moines, Iowa (ap) - 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.

ChamomileFriend
01-09-2008, 07:17 PM
Good for her! I wish more parents would discipline their kids.

jen1981
01-09-2008, 09:24 PM
Yay for her! I'm from Des Moines and I'm so glad that there are some great parents around here! Makes it safer for the rest of us plus teaches some well needed lessons!

kanaclark
01-09-2008, 10:25 PM
that rocks. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the punishments like this

gen
01-10-2008, 01:59 AM
Thats cool.

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.

thats it, he was told!! kudos to that fantastic mum!

Just the other day I was telling my 8 1/2 yo girls that if they did ever keep a journal Id probably read it. My mom made out that she would never do a thing like that bc we all know privacy is soooo important to a teen but me and my sister both know she did. So I was just honest with my girls. If they ever do have a diary/journal, Id probably read it. And Id do the same thing with my kids as that mum.

Madre
01-10-2008, 08:24 AM
I don't know. I'm not big on public humiliation of a child, much less a young adult. I think there might be some less drastic measures whereby a young man might earn his parents' trust again.

mamallama
01-10-2008, 09:28 AM
In a way I think it is funny and I'm glad the mom stuck to her guns. But also I have to agree with Madre. If she warned him about it and told him that he wouldn't be able to keep the car if said things were done - okay. But I really don't think that I'd tell all the reasons in a public ad. It sounds like she quite enjoys the attention she is getting or she wouldn't run the ad the extra week after it sold. Just my thoughts...

stephwhiz
01-11-2008, 07:30 PM
Way to go Mom! I'm glad there are still parents who actually believe in punishing a child...

Faith
01-15-2008, 12:02 PM
That is hilarious! I've always wanted to be able to come up with good stuff like that and then have the guts to follow through!

And, if that's the meanest mom, then sign me up! You have to do what you have to do. [clapping]

Ashlee
01-16-2008, 01:23 PM
Yeah.. I thought it was pretty funny too Faith! BTW.. Welcome to C'moms![welcomesign]

4Angelz
01-17-2008, 11:26 PM
That's great! I am absolutely loving her sense of discipline... Haha! Great parenting.

pioneerchristianmomof3
01-18-2008, 10:17 AM
My first thought was...I really like this mom! Way to go! Too many parents are afraid to take a stand!
Here is a copy of the actual add.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s100/The_Serzies/image001.jpg

Madre
01-19-2008, 08:05 AM
Perhaps it would have been best if the son had worked and bought his own car at the outset rather than for his parents to buy him one. That might have been a better parenting idea.

I also think "impounding" the car for a time or requiring the son to pay them back would have been a better solution/consequence. Either way, perhaps the parents should have discussed consequences for violating their stipulations at the time the car was given. To immediately place a humiliating ad in the paper and sell your son's car seems to be a bit over the top. This "child" is not a 16 year old driving for the first time. He is legally an adult. "Mean Mom" made her point and gained some moments of fame, but I tend to think that her decision will come back to bite her eventually.