OT: meanest mom on the planet. - Page 1

What do yall think about what this mom did to her son?

(01-09) 17:45 PST 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.

I really doesn't matter what form intervention comes in.  DUI's are dangerous for all involved and not fair for those who are found in the mix by adverse circumstances i.e wrong place at wrong time.  There are legal entities that are glad to intervene; hopefully preventing tradgedy and giving the perpetrator a chance to examine their actions.  We have a thing called Drug Court where I live, and they are happy to assist those with substance use or abuse problems with an arena to explore the impact of their behavior as it relates to themselves and society.   I have one more semester in a program directed at giving me education directed at chemical dependency  treatment.  I have be afforded the oppurtunity to share my experience, strength ,and hope with those who may need it.  Only the individual knows if they have a problem.  Intervention is a tool that allows allows the individual the chance to explore into behaviors percieved to be potentially dangerous to them and those around them.  I wish him and his luck.

                                                      Don D.

Good for her!

More parents should take that stance and maybe kids these days won't be so inclined to make so many stupid decisions!

Kids are going to make mistakes, but in turn they need to learn that there are consequences.

Most parents these days are full of empty threats and the kids know it.  Or they blame it on who they are hanging out with.  Then they are in denial, and not my kid, blah blah blah.  LOL
 

    Bravo to a strong MOM!  She did the right thing and may avoid having to plan his funeral, or make arrangements for him to live as a quadriplegic, as a result of her actions and the "wake-up call" it gave the kid. 

    Ten years from now, when he is still alive and not an alcoholic because of his mother's decisive action, he will look back and laugh.  Hell, they might even get some money on this for his next vehicle--can't you see a TV movie inspired by this, "meanest mom" title and all?

Well, I'm sure that they could get at least a few good interviews!  LOL  She could do the talk show circuit, Regis, Good Day NY, and whatever the hell others are out there!

In Ontario It is illegal to have an open bottle of booze in the car, regardless of whether anyone is actually drinking it. I don't know if the States has the same rule. If it had been my son, he'd have been in serious trouble, too, not only for breaking MY rules but for breaking the law.

Bravo to that mom!

You are right, Mystere.  There several teenagers and early 20-somethings  I know of, who if they had been disciplined like they should have when they started going to wild parties, getting drunk, and skipping school might be alive today.  People don't realize how how the high death toll is for teenaged and early twenty something young men in particular who break the rules and the law.  If people realized out how many of these young people do die....accidents, over doses, suicides....maybe they would be tougher parents.  Being tough could save lives.  Veronica

Yes, Sunsilver, it's called "open container" here in the states and it's illegal here too. 

One thing I always think about is when I was coming up, my friends and I were afraid of our parents, not so much for what they did to us as what they MIGHT do to us!  These days, kids are a lot more sophisticated and savy than we were, so maybe that's partly why they try and get away with so much more.  Of course, we were no angels either and did our fair share of stupid stunts.

The woman and her son were on the Ellen DeGeneres Show today.   The boy is a college student, his mother had gone to visit.  Apparently she had given him two rules about the car:  Never leave it unlocked and no alcohol containers in the vehicle.   He broke both rules!  While the young man was not happy at having his car sold, he understood the reasoning behind it.