Meanest mom on the planet

[Partyless]

FWIW - this woman is my new HERO!!!

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

Extra kudos to her for sticking to her rules even when her son claimed the alcohol was left by a passenger!

[Semantics]

I agree with the mom! :clap

[Indigo]

And I thought MW was bad... :para

Actually this sounds like something she'd do. :lol

[cassandra]

I love that tactic too. I think taking the car away is the best idea. Having a car is a huge responsibility. Obviously this boy still needs to learn that.

Course I am not sure I would publicly humiliate him but that is just me and the respect I have for my children.

[Partyless]

Course I am not sure I would publicly humiliate him but that is just me and the respect I have for my children.

I kind of thought about that, too but I think it was done as more of a funny thing than maliciously humiliating her son.

And when you think about it - if public humiliation keeps that kid from ever drinking and driving and putting himself and others at risk, the ends justify the means IMO. I respect my child, too - but if she ever pulls a stunt like that that could kill her or others, I'll do what it takes to nip that behavior right in the bud.

[cassandra]

I kind of thought about that, too but I think it was done as more of a funny thing than maliciously humiliating her son.

And when you think about it - if public humiliation keeps that kid from ever drinking and driving and putting himself and others at risk, the ends justify the means IMO. I respect my child, too - but if she ever pulls a stunt like that that could kill her or others, I'll do what it takes to nip that behavior right in the bud.

I agree, I just think that taking away the car is enough.

A couple years ago there were parents putting kids on street corners with signs that told the world what they did. I just don't think that it helps. Certainly not something I would ever use in my parenting bag of tricks.

[Oceanbreeze]

:paclap :paclap :paclap :paclap

My mom bought me my first car. I let someone drive it who ended up totaling my car the last week of senior year in high school. :toetap My mom never bought me another car. Hard lesson learned. My kids are screwed :lmao :angel

[Indigo]

My car is the hand-me-down 11 year old minivan and I'm happy with it. It runs pretty decently and it was free... kinda. The deal was that I help around the house, babysit, and be available for chauffeur services for the kiddos. :lol

[Pristine]

Here's the actual ad:

[cassandra]

Here's the actual ad:

Thanks for that.

Yeah, I still think she could have just sold the car. You know listed the model and make and the price. Guess I am just crazy that way.

[Partyless]

A couple years ago there were parents putting kids on street corners with signs that told the world what they did. I just don't think that it helps. Certainly not something I would ever use in my parenting bag of tricks.

THAT I would classify as public humiliation bordering on child abuse. The ad - eh, not so much!

[cassandra]

THAT I would classify as public humiliation bordering on child abuse. The ad - eh, not so much!

Can you explain to me the difference? Where I sit the damage to the child's psyche is the same in both.

[Partyless]

Can you explain to me the difference? Where I sit the damage to the child's psyche is the same in both.

Putting a kid on a random street corner with a sign stating what they did could endanger the child if a distracted driver ran off the road or some crazy decided to grab the kid.

Putting an ad with some snark in there about what your kid did in the classified section isn't nearly as 'public' or endangering IMO.

Both have a level of humiliation but unless she put a photo of the kid with that ad or had him answer the phone/door when prospective buyers came by or called, some semblance of his privacy was protected.

That's how I see the difference in the two.

[cassandra]

Okay I can see your points. However, I am still feeling like the feelings the child would be feeling towards a person who would do this to them is just as damaging.