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Meet the ‘Meanest Mother in Wyoming’ — Another Example of Good Parenting?

Jan. 10, 2013 10:00pm Mike Opelka

This advertisement in the Northern Wyoming Daily News is burning up the Internet and will probably end up being featured on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.

The Meanest Mother In Wyoming Sells 16 Year Old Sons Ford Truck

Image: Facebook

The six-line ad told a powerful story:

VERY mad mother selling 16 yr. old son’s 1993 Ford Ranger. Drove 3 mos. before son forgot to use his brain and got caught driving drunk. $3500 OBO. Call meanest mother in Wyoming, 307 -2**-****.

We had to know what happened.

At first we thought the ad was too good to be true. After all, it was brought to the web by a Casper, Wyoming radio station. A dozen phone calls to the number in the ad went unanswered and the voice mailbox was full. Text messages were the only way we were able to break through and connect with Angie, the self-proclaimed “meanest mother in Wyoming.” The telephone interview that followed gave us the inside story on a used truck ad that has gone viral.

Angie is a divorced mother of two boys, 19 and 16. The youngest son is the one she said “forgot to use his brain” and ended up getting arrested for driving drunk. When her youngest turned 16, Angie bought her son the 1993 pickup truck featured in the ad. She told TheBlaze that this gift did come with a couple of conditions. He was supposed to:

Keep his grades up
Stay out of trouble (Angie said that her son was basically a good boy. However, he had one friend she feared might lead him astray.)

The young man was holding up his end of the bargain until New Year’s Eve.

That night, Angie was home, waiting up for her son to return from a date. When he missed his curfew (something he rarely did) she became concerned and sent him a text message. The reply she received was not typical. In fact, Angie told us that her son’s text message to her made her worry that he was intoxicated. She asked if he needed a ride home. He said “No, I’ll be home in an hour.”

Ninety minutes later, there was no sign of the boy. Like so many people, Angie’s son was caught up in the night’s revelry and ended up getting arrested for driving under the influence. The Wyoming State Police called the boy’s mother to come and get him and it was on the ride home that she decided to sell the truck to teach her son a lesson. Her ex-husband did not want her to sell the truck. She offered to let him buy it. He refused.

The next few days brought impassioned pleas from both her son and her ex-husband. Angie said that she held firm and placed the ad that ran on Wednesday in the local paper. A day later, the story hit the internet and Angie’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing.

Before the ad caught fire on the web, Angie did get a several calls from serious potential buyers, but as of Thursday night, she was still looking for a buyer.

Do you think Angie’s “tough love” parenting is appropriate or would you have given her son a second chance? Weigh-in below in the comments section and take our Blaze Poll.

TheBlaze removed the phone number from the ad.

(H/T – FM 107.9 The River)

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Comments (187)

GuruMeditation
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:42am
We need more mean mothers and stern fathers.

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abeliever2010
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:38am
We need more involved parents as this one!

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Babci
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:29am
Good job, Mom! We need more like you. Thanks!

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GeeWhiz
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:26am
He got his second chance by staying alive, not hitting anyone else, and it sounds like he still has a license. He’s getting off easy in my book.

As a mother of a teen about to get her license, I’m absolutely and completely behind this mother and her decision. This wasn’t just a boneheaded ‘I got a small speeding ticket, maw’. This was driving drunk after only having a license for three months. I get that teens can have difficulty making decisions at times, but this one is so dangerous and stupid that I wouldn’t be able to trust this kid not to get himself and/or someone else killed by his lack of judgement. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if being soft caused death or destruction. I would also be personally liable for insurance, legal fees, ad nauseum. Not only that, this looks like crap on your resume when you’re applying to college or trying to get a job.

Operating a vehicle is an adult responsibility. A parent has to get real about whether or not her kid can handle it. For something like this to happen, tells me that this one cannot do it. I’d be snatching the keys, dealing with the legal aftermath of this stupidity, and selling the damn car. And regardless of what the courts demand that he does, I’d also be arranging for him to volunteer somewhere: police ride along, the local trauma center, the morgue. Seeing some smashed up people might bring some reality into the mix. Dead or dying people can illustrate what a parental lecture cannot.

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1FreeVoice
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:25am
She is his mom, she has both responsibility and authority over him ( regardless of laws eroding parental authority). He didn’t just break a family rule or curfew. He broke the law, and not a “trivial” or controversial law, nor one that he could claim to be conscientious objector to… a law that is publicly supported as being in the interests of public safety. He endangered himself and others carelessly, for fun.

____YES, she did the right thing !! If more moms would stand their ground like this we might not have a drunk driving problem. My son is too young to drive, but I think I will tell my kids about this ( and add it to “I should do that if…”). I totally admire her, and hope to be equally “mean” when the reasons are as solid.

Are you sharing this with only with your teens, or opening a conversation early with kids too young to drive, but old enough to learn??

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Glenfin
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:08am
When it comes to life or death there are no second chances. He will mature and realize how lucky he is to be alive. After all, it’s not like he just missed his curfew for Pete’s sake. He could have killed himself or worse, someone else.

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trouthunter1
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:55am
Reminds me of the “meantest mother in Pennsylvania” when I was growing up. At 17 I got in similiar trouble and this type of punishment got my attention that led to a responsible and good life. I miss my sainted mother.

At 61, I am sure I am still grounded for something, but I certainly learned right from wrong and that actions have consequences. A lesson well learned!

There would be a lot less bull**** with more parents such as this lady. A job well done!

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trouthunter1
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:51am
Reminds me of “the meanest mother in Pennsylvania” when I was growing up. How I miss my sainted mother!

I recall getting in similar trouble at 17. At 61 I think I am still grounded. Fortunately being raised in this fashion led to a responsible and good life.

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Dano.50
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:34am
I’m tired of this, “Everybody deserves a second chance” bit,” when that’s all that’s said.

It’s “Everybody can EARN a second chance; by making restitution for the mistake.”

The conditions was “Stay out of trouble or the truck goes” and drunk driving is one of the worst offenses because the chance of endangering lives skyrockets.

That the kid should loose the truck is a minimum. He should take a job to pay whomever paid his fines and court costs, and even if he pays it off early, the entire time his license is suspended he should still be working.

This would not only entitle him to his “Second Chance,” but give him a great lesson that mistakes ultimately cost somebody SWEAT not money.

He might even learn just how hard it is to get through life when with no education and no particular skills.

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moreteaplease
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:32am
I’d have done the same thing. 2nd chances can be given in less serious situations but this one could have cost this boy and others their lives.

As a parent you can’t waiver on something like this. Imagine how scared she must have felt when she found out he had been arrested. She could have lost her son and then ended up spending the rest of her life probably feeling guilty for buying him the truck.

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willbedone
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:21am
All you whiners about giveing him a second chance. He someday will get another chance at driving. He may be the one that purchases the vehicle and insurance. Too many people get killed by drunks that have had a no punishment second chance.

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rickc34
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:01am
She loves her son enough to sell his truck. Spare the rod and spoil the child.

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fixmfast
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:51am
@ Piratephil –
I’m with you 100% and I think the ones that said he deserves a second chance are just as cowardly. As I tell my 9 & 10 year olds, EVERY action you do has a consequence, period. If the boy was irresponsible enough to drink at 16, then get in his truck and drive, then he’s getting everything he DESERVES. With the current societal beliefs that all our kids are special, they all deserve a trophy, this is the end result. So many people just let their kids do whatever they want and they always seem surprised when the consequences hit them full in the face. The dad in this story is obviously a horrible role model in this, as he seems to be one of those parents that just let his children do what they want and then sit back and cry when the kid screws up.
Here’s a simple question for you people that said “NO” and “NOT SURE” – would you vote the same way if he had killed someone?

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rochrealtor
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 6:41am
It is her family business, not ours.

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GUYFROMMAINE
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 6:36am
I wonder when the liberals will call for the banning of alcohol? This boy could have killed someone else or himself. Isn’t the chance of an innocent person dying enough justification for these liberals to outlaw alcohol, especially when drunk drivers kill more people on average than those evil guns? O.K. enough sarcasm. This mother did the right thing. Maybe her teenage son will get the message and learn that he is a fool if he thinks it is alright to get drunk and drive.

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APROUDVETERAN
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 6:11am
My Dad, sister and brother in law were all standing on the sidewalk waiting for the light to change so they could cross the street when a guy who was diving drunk jumped the sidewalk and ran them all down. My dad was never the same man again because of the brain injuries he sustanined. A SECOND chance for a drunk driver? NOT in MY world.

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JMJ6391
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:47am
I think the mom did the right thing. I hope she carries through and doesn’t cave. My grandmother lost her 10 year old son to a drunk driver and never got over it. This kid was lucky and maybe some family was too that night that he got caught before something happened?

I will be 60 years old tomorrow and have never had my own car. We own one family car because it is all we can afford. I don’t know why these kids today have to have a car the minute they get a license anyway?

According to http://www.rmiia.org/auto/teens/Teen_Driving_Statistics.asp

16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age. Why hand them a car until they are mature enough to handle the responsibility?

I say she’s a good mother for showing him there are consequences when you break the rules.

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Rational Man
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:18am
Besides all of the obvious personal and public safety issues, the deal made about not getting into trouble, the lying and bad judgement buy not accepting the ride home when mom offered and the irresponsibility of breaking the law by drinking in the first place (16yrs old), there is the issue of a single mom having to pay increased insurance premiums on not only his truck but every vehicle at her house. Her personal car insurance will unavoidably go up for probably 5 years just because the boy is a licensed driver with a DUI conviction and living at the same residence. Almost as if she got the DUI herself. She did the right thing and the smart thing. She might even want to consider yanking his drivers license if the local laws don’t do it for her. If it’s painful enough for the kid, maybe he will at least be less likely to do it again. Personally, I wish my mom had been tougher on me in a similar situation when I was a teenager.

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spfoam1
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:26am
The mother probably made the right choice. The kid may actually reach 18 now, and he will know there can actually be long term consequences for stupid decisions. He had a chance to get a ride home and refused, and that was his second chance. He made two bad choices in one night. Had he admitted he was intoxicated and needed a ride home he would not have a DUI, and would probably still have the vehicle.

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doubletap
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:06am
I would not sell it, I’d disable it and leave it there for him to see everyday knowing he’d never drive it again.

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Virginia Rebel
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:05am
I don’t think any of us have the right to criticize this mom. She is the one who will have to live with the consequences of her son killing himself or someone else because of his irresponsible actions. We should absolutely support her in whatever she feels is the right thing to do.

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patriotmom
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:35am
Second chance?! He got his second chance already when he didn’t crash that truck and kill or maim himself or someone else!!

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EnigmanDen
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:06am
He’s lucky he was only arrested and wasn’t either killed in a crash or killed somebody else in a crash. This is a wake up call and Mom is right to bring the consequences to bear.

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Slowman101
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:06am
@13A: Please don’t move to my town. People like you are a little scary.
Mom did the right thing! Toughlove all the way! I see they live in Casper, Wyoming. I am sure they have some there call a BUS! Let him ride the bus.

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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 11:57pm
Her son, her business.

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