'Meanest mom on planet' sells son's car'

[auntAgonist]

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.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/09/mean.mom.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

[DS1]

1. That's a little harsh

[zabet]

2. Good for her!

Whatever it takes to keep
your teen from drinking and
driving.
:thumbsup:

[LynneSin]

3. I'm glad she stuck to her guns on this one

The kids said it wasn't his alcohol. Well he's 19, if someone brought alcohol he should have kicked the kid out of the car.

[DarkTirade]

4. I gotta save this story for when I have kids... :P

[qb]

5. She's doing him a favor.

Better this than A DUI and impounded car (not to mention serious injury or death).
So many kids think they lead a charmed life and can behave recklessly without consequences. I hope this sinks in.

[rubberducky]

6. Three cheers for this loving and creative mom!!

[fishwax]

7. what an ego trip

"The car has been sold, but Hambleton says she will continue the ad for another week -- just for the feedback."

I don't blame her for selling the car, though.

[BlueIris]

8. Good call on yanking it, but—self-aggrandizing, much?

She does need to get a life, but not for this.

[BarenakedLady]

9. More and more each day...

The idea of having three teenaged children in the near future frightens me to death.

:scared:

[Inchworm]

11. I don't envy you

:hug:

[Debi]

10. Hah! Don't mess w/Mom's from Iowa!

:7

I'd do the same thing to Debi, Jr. if he didn't follow the rules.

[youthere]

19. I'm another Iowa mom that wouldn't hesitate to do this!

[Bennyboy]

12. Way to go Mom......

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Good for her! I like this idea.

[MissB]

14. He is 19?

If it is her car, then she has every right to do it.

At 19, one would think he'd have his own car in his own name.

[CottonBear]

16. Most 19 year olds can't get /can't afford insurance in their own names so no car in their own names.

Their parents can get a better insurance rate for them by getting a policy that only allows the teenager to drive the car. (i.e. no friends or siblings can drive the car and wreck it...)

[Deep13]

15. My aunt shot her son's cat.

Apparently it got sick in the house 2 or 3 times, so she shot it in the backyard. Except it turned out that it was her cat that was sick, not her son's.

[gizmonic]

17. Yea, that qualifies as mean.

:wtf: :grr:

She's a nasty piece o' work

:cry:

[tjwmason]

18. Is there any suggestion that he was drinking and driving

If he's just drinking, then it's a ridiculous over-reaction to something which shouldn't even be illegal - if there is reason to suspect drunk driving, then it's a different situation...though it's probably not a good way to keep a good relationship with her son.