Jane Hambleton probably never expected to have her story posted all over the web or featured in news articles around the nation. Admittedly, she was hoping to get some attention when she placed an ad in the local periodical, The Des Moines Register.
So how is it that her ad has caught the attention of folks everywhere? Let’s see.
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.”
Apparently, the 48-year-old mother had found the alcohol in her son’s car. She immediately confiscated the vehicle and placed it up for sale in the newspaper. The 19-year-old claims that the booze didn’t belong to him, but rather was left behind by a companion. Mrs. Hambleton believes his story, however she is certain that there is a bigger lesson for him to learn. I agree, afterall, why would he allow any alcoholic beverage in his car in the first place?
She doesn’t accuse her son of drinking or driving, however she was very concerned that he or any of his friends would be traveling with alcohol. Drinking and driving is still the number one killer of teens. Having grown up in the era of “Just Say No” and “Don’t Drink and Drive”, I feel as though in this decade, these messages have almost been forgotten.
I applaud this mother. Her son is likely too upset and too young to begin to understand the weight of his actions or the possible tragic outcomes of them. Surely, his only concerns are the loss of wheels and the public embarassment it has brought him. Hopefully, the lessons will become clear to him and he will be able to appreciate it all in the end.
Beyond the message against drinking and driving, there is also something else that none of the articles I’ve read pointed out…choice and consequences. Teenagers and young adults seem to be oblivious of the consequences that come with some of the decisions they make. Who can blame them? They’ve grown up in this society that sensationalizes celebrity sex tapes as well as programs like Girls Gone Wild and Jackass to name just a couple. There is an air of coolness in acting crazy or getting totally wasted. 2007 was the year of teen idols and drug/alcohol abuse: Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Nicole Richie were in the news on almost a daily basis. What about the Miss USA scandal that sparked the fued between Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell? Rosie publicly criticized Trump’s decision to allow Tara Connor to keep her crown despite her use of drugs and alcohol. And let’s not forget Vanessa Hudgens, actress from Disney’s High School Musical movie. She sent someone nude photos of herself that were later circulated all over the Internet. Disney’s response: “We hope she’s learned her lesson.” That’s it?
As a result of Jane’s Hambleton’s ad, she has received dozens of phone calls from other mothers, paramedics, police officers and professionals thanking her for spreading the message. I hope that parents are discussing this story with their teens, as well as taking notes on how to enforce the rules.
I don’t think Jane was mean. I think that she has provided her son with a valuable learning opportunity that could save his life, or the life of a “companion”. Now the choice will be his whether or not to make better decisions. The car has since been sold, but Jane Hambleton will pay for one more week of advertising it in the classified section. It has cost her quite a bit of money, but she feels that the expense is worth it with the more people her story touches.
