'Mean mom' sells son's car after misdeed

The Associated Press

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.

I think she did the right thing.

He broke the rule. He had to pay for it.

I'll bet he doesn't test any other rules she sets anytime soon!

I think she did the right thing.

He broke the rule. He had to pay for it.

I'll bet he doesn't test any other rules she sets anytime soon!

In my opinion, he's a little old for Mom & Dad to be buying him a car and then teaching him a lesson. I was out of the house and on my own by that point in life and if I screwed up - it was totally on me.

Been reading CNN during work hours too, hmm?

Already forwarded that new's article around the office - has been a moderately quiet day on the Helpdesk :)

I can't post from work. I used to post from work about 10 years ago. It's a bad habit. I know a guy that got fired for spending 2 hours + a day on bulletin boards. He was warned by his boss not to, but kept on doing it until the personell department had enough data and evidence to can him.

I thought about the fact that the lady's son actually is an adult at 19. He is spoiled, but it is kind of funny. I was out of the house by 17 and bought my first car that I had to repair/fix up with my own money and paid for my own education. But, I can't say that kicking your kid out of the nest onto the street is always the right answer either. Some kids need their parents more than others. Some people make the wrong decisions when they are young and can't erase them later.

OLDS 1999 Intrigue? Sounds like her old car that she let him drive if he was a good boy. How else could she sell it?

If I had to guess the son was probably in college or post-high school education that the parent(s) were providing. The car may have been his in the sense that he was allowed to use it under strict rules.

You are never too old to set boundaries with your children or relatives.

I can't post from work. I used to post from work about 10 years ago. It's a bad habit. I know a guy that got fired for spending 2 hours + a day on bulletin boards. He was warned by his boss not to, but kept on doing it until the personell department had enough data and evidence to can him.
Think I'm pretty safe - my Team Leader gets onto FaceBook at work, so I can hardly get slammed for reading the news ;)

Then you're lucky to have a team leader who doesn't come from the "Do as we say, not as we do" school of "management"; IMHO, there's far too many of those in the world. :rolleyes: