This Is Cowardly!

[@TownspersonB]

This behavior is how you go visitor-less in an old folks home.

[@TammyMayCormier]

Yup!

[@Golf2foto]

100%!! But these types of people will always play victim.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

Or you end up with no family willing to work with placement counselors and wind up in a crappy home.

[@kellibuzzard9431]

Homeless old lady more like. 😮

[@lisak7380]

This mom just stifled this kid's ambition and entrepreneurial spirit. He could have kept expanding his business with that lawn mower and learn valuable business skills.

[@kbanghart]

Not necessarily. If the kids mental state is good enough, he'll be able to move out and make it on his own.

[@ricksanchezsflask8794]

​@kbanghart going to be awhile before that happens. I hope his uncle would be willing to take him in, but I'm sure mom won't allow that.

[@home4life505]

This young boy will rebuild bigger and better

[@kbanghart]

@@home4life505 Yes, just like Joe Biden

[@jwlsngold5026]

​@@ricksanchezsflask8794I was going to say this same tbing. Glad his uncle is trying to set this kid straight on a good life path, mom is pathetic and doesn't deserve to be a parent.

[@eurekahope5310]

I am outraged at that woman! To steal his means of income that he earned is beyond theft, if is cruelty!

[@cyrusrahbaran9604]

Amen.

[@KC-J]

AND he bought the riding mower for $900 and she sold it for $500 so he took an additional loss on top of the lost future income

[@xlerb2286]

Yes, That's the thing that wasn't mentioned, she not only stole his mower (and sold it at a crappy price) but she shot them both in the foot by taking away his means to make more money. He's the type that will get ahead and be wealthy, she's the type that's going to be broke and begging favors her whole life.

[@dariaharruff7025]

Money abuse is wrong

[@megalodon1726]

And she even stole from her future self. She could have worked out something with him to take X% of his earnings for paying the bills. But she chose to dry up that entire future stream of income.

[@BrianW211]

Taking her son's hard-earned money without asking is bad enough, but then she stole and sold the tools that he uses to earn his money. That's just stupid. What would she be doing if he didn't earn any money at all? I'd be surprised if she doesn't have a drug/alcohol addiction.

[@ricksanchezsflask8794]

She doesn't want him to earn money. I wouldn't be surprised if the question, "you think you're better than me?" came up in the conversation.

[@aolvaar8792]

Eating the Golden Goose.

[@katiejon17]

The crux was loosely veiled: this is a single mother with different baby daddies and no husband. She’s welfare, at that income, with two kids - she’s getting plenty of subsidies. She’s a real dirty bag.

[@littlesongbird1]

@@ricksanchezsflask8794 Exactly sounds like mymom

[@BrianW211]

@@ricksanchezsflask8794 It's possible, and that would be even more sad.

[@julieritchie9809]

She crushed him being so proud of making his own money what an awful Mom😡

[@curiouscat3384]

Yes but hopefully with his loving uncle's help he will pick himself up and become stronger because of it.

[@_CPerk]

Love how the mower was $900 and his mom sold It for $500. She’s not even stealing right

[@MarkYeung1]

This is disgusting parenting. The damage to the 13 years old will be immense.

[@curiouscat3384]

Agree - 13 is a pretty sensitive age for a boy. Emotionally still a little boy while mentally becoming a mature man.

[@kbanghart]

Not necessarily, some kids can bounce right back.

[@ricksanchezsflask8794]

This is actually pretty typical behavior of a lower income family.

[@wynimasimmons6665]

When my cousins 16 y/o daughter gets money she is made to get her own clothes. As a parent i furnished everything for my kids.

[@jorgesalazar818]

​@@wynimasimmons6665when I was 14 years old my parents provided me the basic necessities to live. Food, shelter, uniforms for school and one pair of shoes per year. Anything more then that I found out different ways to make money in order tu buy myself a cell phone and more shoes. I'm glad my parents didn't do everything for me, and I learned to work for the things I wanted. My younger sister was given everything by my parents, and is now a crappy adult.

[@roryh2241]

This is beyond horrible. The mom needs to make more money but what she’s doing is so in the wrong in every way.

[@michaelmcnulty8785]

The more I learn about other people, the more thankful I become for my parents.

[@anndeecosita3586]

Exactly. Sometimes I complain about my relatives then I hear stuff like this and realize how good I have it.

[@soonerdave01]

🎯🎯💯💯👏👏

[@home4life505]

How proud I would be as a parent to have a motivated, hard working child like this boy

[@jessicabrittany1682]

My mom used to do this to me. I lived on a military base and I was homeschooled so I made about $5k/yr babysitting. I saved every penny only to find out my mom took the cash to fund her lifestyle and has 0 remorse till this day. Worst part is, she didn't need it. She wanted the money to pay for her extras. I'm in my 30s and I'm still not fully over it

[@jeanniesabol5410]

You never completely get over it.

[@user-pj3on8qm6e]

Never get over it, feed that hatred, and dump ur mom. She will realize that she threw a working relationship for 5k. Have your life and let your mom be alone with the lifestyle she oh so wanted

[@anndeecosita3586]

@@user-pj3on8qm6eHolding onto hatred will poison your soul.

[@karenabrams8986]

My mom stole my college fund my grandma set up after she died. Told me it was all her inheritance and that she considered grandmas wishes a suggestion she had every right to ignore. Spent it on herself and lifestyle upgrades. I joined the navy at 18 and got away from her. No contact for 11 years now.

[@jessicabrittany1682]

@karenabrams8986 my grandpa left my mom $400k when he died last year. Each of the grandkids was to get around $20k. I'm 100% positive I will never see that money

[@wynimasimmons6665]

Maybe i'm a little weird but it's the parents job to pay bills, not the kids.

[@JustinCase780]

Thank you Captain Obvious. 😂

[@ricksanchezsflask8794]

That's the craziest thing I've ever heard.

[@aolvaar8792]

When my father was 5, his mother took him to the Catholic orphanage and told them she could no longer feed him, (1937). 6 months later, they found his father, who came and got him. At 7 yrs old, his father would leave him alone in the home for 3 months in the Spring. He got a "job" cleaning the lunchroom at school, they packed him a "dinner" for pay. As he walked home people would tell him, "Come and eat with us." He knew he could ask any neighbor for help, if needed. Everyone knew him as the boy who lives by himself. My Mother watched two of her older siblings die of starvation, they gave their food to the younger kids. Wartime Japan. Point: My Parent would ask: "What are you going to-do to prevent starvation? This started at 10 years old,

[@wynimasimmons6665]

@@aolvaar8792 times were different back then. Believe me when i say i know they were different because i was close to my granny, who died at 10 days shy of her 97th birthday. She would tell me all the way back when stories, which i loved hearing. She had to give up her oldest 3 kids from her 1st marriage because she couldn't take care of them after the divorce. When she married my grandpa they tried getting those 3 kids back. She told me that between her husbands when she was single she would have to steal an onion out of a garden and fix an onion soup. But now days they have food banks, food stamps, programs that can help pay utilities and hud to help with rent. So there really is no excuse for taking your childs hard earned money.

[@nildabridgeman8104]

​​@@JustinCase780actually no, it's not obvious to many families including mine. My mother as soon as I started working made me take a bill. Then when income tax return came, she expected "her cut". It's not right but when you're raised that way you don't know

[@quinnterry2834]

I guarantee she has bills in her son's name. His credit is already maxed out at 13!

[@BrianW211]

That's unlikely unless she lied about his age.

[@peteranon8455]

@@BrianW211 Would you put that past her?

[@BrianW211]

🤣@@peteranon8455

[@JahAmericanNY]

@@BrianW211people have been putting utilities and credit cards in their kids name. When the kid turns 18 and tries to apply for their own credit card or something that runs a credit report, they find out that their parents have tanked their credit as a child. It’s sad but that some people actually do that to they own children

[@JeremyB1039]

This story hits home my mom did the same thing when I was 13 years old. I got a fake ID and started working on the weekends at a grocery store and was saving up to buy my first Xbox 360 right before buying it, The money was gone to pay for a utility bill, I was super upset for many years. I would just spend money thinking someone would take it from me. I am now starting to realize the importance of saving regardless of what happens.

[@michaellaffredo2473]

Maybe he could open a savings account for his nephew and put the money in the bank

[@chuckokoye2410]

Thats a good idea, but I don’t know if that’s something you can do for a minor without the parent knowing about it.

[@kbanghart]

​@@chuckokoye2410or forget the new account and just keep the money hidden from mom.

[@ricksanchezsflask8794]

​@@chuckokoye2410he could open the account for himself and let his nephew be a user. Just hope the uncle doesn't decide to follow the family legacy.

[@Aaa0483]

He can't open a savings account because that is son's cousin

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

If the nephew/second cousin has access to his birth certificate, he can get an ID card. With a state ID, most banks will allow teenagers to open a bank account. He might not even need to put his mom on the account, and he can list his uncle/second cousin as the beneficiary (my son was 15 and that is how the account was set up). The kid will get an ATM card and online banking. He can leave the ATM card with the caller when he does not need it.

[@bcusaaus4749]

Sounds like my parents growing up; they didn’t steal my money just laid on the guilt trip til I gave in😢. It went on from 13-22. Graduated college and got the f… out! Over the decades, mom still lays on sad stories and ask for money. ( doesn’t work anymore)

[@jimmymcgill6778]

She should provide for the kid. Not the kid providing for her. She needs to get another job.

[@MSTRnBTCto-the-moon]

My guess is... The mother has more problems than just stealing from the kid.

[@stephenrussell9545]

Prayers need to go out for the 13 year old boy and his mother! It is rare for a boy like this to take the initiative and start a business. The mother sounds like she has got some serious issues, and I wouldn't be surprised if she has been on some kind of public assistance for a very long time. This is heartbreaking for this boy, but I hope he is able to learn from extended family so he can make a better life for himself! If she doesn't change her ways, she will be asking her son for money even after he becomes an adult.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

If that was my mother, I would get as far away from her as soon as possible. I would honor her by paying a utility bill here or there, and NEVER hand her cash no matter what her story. She can get assistance, visit food banks, and get into the system for subsidized housing.

[@jeanniesabol5410]

She would get absolutely nothing from me ever. What a scum bag.

[@michellegreen1072]

She sold his ability to earn money too. That’s horrible. It never crossed her mind that “I should ask for a certain, if I really need it.” The cousin needs to talk to her son and help him keep his head up. As soon as he turns 18, he’s out out.

[@Tashas_Travels]

This happened to me too when i was like 21, my mom pawned my laptop for money to pay bills without asking me. I cried so much that it still hurts me to this day, and I've never had a good relationship with her till today and whenever she asks me for money i say No because she will not pay me back my money as she's done this to me countless times where she borrows money and when i ask for it back she gets angry, curses me and flat out refuses to give it back so now she's on her own and i will not give her a cent of my hard earned money

[@samuels4777]

When I was in high school my best friend was happy getting his first check at a summer job $500 then his mom took it said we need to pay bills. His mom was a smoker / drinker and always going to the casino. He was upset because he can’t say much he was only 16 years old he only got 2 checks that summer and he wanted to buy new clothes and shoes for school because his mom doesn’t buy those things unless they don’t fit no more. He’s always coming to my house hungry because he doesn’t have much food in the fridge because he’s mom is always buying cigarettes and a case of beer. I felt bad for him as soon as he turn 18 he moved out right away.

[@dothedanmthing]

Why is this kids dad letting this happen, oh never mind.

[@hiteshadhikari]

That woman can never keep a man in her life

[@ricksanchezsflask8794]

We'll let him know once we find him.

[@nildabridgeman8104]

I was raised the same way.. as soon as I started working, my mother made me responsible for paying a household bill. As soon as I got my income tax return, my mother would say "Where's my cut?".. when I told her I'm saving it to be able to move out she still got upset. She wasn't broke & had plenty

[@Tre2cool96]

Tough situation for the caller because he really wants to help, but he also doesnt want to overstep. It is impressive that the kid took such an initiative to go make his own money. The mom should have joined him and they could have made it a family business. She obviously needs the money.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

If the mom is on any form of state assistance, having s business would likely shut down her gravy train.

[@SpoonHurler]

​@@user-mv9tt4st9kthis... why work hard when uncle sam will give you something for nothing

[@Excalibur2]

​@@user-mv9tt4st9klikely a cash only deal, she's probably just a lazy thief, why else does anyone steal?

[@egobot3231]

I found out later in life that my grandmother on my moms side would purchase savings bonds for my sister and I birthdays. My mom took the savings bonds and cashed them in for herself. That money was supposed to offset college tuition/laptop/etc. she’s a monster before she did all that.

[@genxx2724]

I bought a savings bond for my colleague’s baby’s first birthday. I intended for it to pay for something she needed when she went to college. When I arrived at the party and saw the crib overflowing with tons of gifts the other guests brought, I knew I made the right choice. But my colleague immediately cashed it and bought a video game for himself.

[@egobot3231]

@@genxx2724 that’s wild! Goes to show you how mismanaged money will be in that future

[@_2315_]

My baby momma did the same. To do “laundry” like hxe is our daughter the parent or is you? So instead of giving my daughter cash I now have a chase account for her. She gets everything directly. I also keep the card so when she needs something I’ll go pick her up so I can see what she’s buying as well. She’s saving her own money. She saved $300 in one MONTH! So I told her when she’s 18 I’ll hand over the card and now she’s responsible for whatever is in there so she’s excited to SAVE even more!

[@ProtectFamiliesRights]

I was raised by a mother like this- i used to dread pay day as a teenager because she would ALWAYS cause a scene to literally do anything to get her hands on my money. It took her stealing my identity to force me to go no-contact. I really feel for this kid- so so so tough

[@alleykeosheyan4779]

Dave, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a follow-up call on this family! Your viewers (present company included) are outraged at this so-called "mother's" shameful behavior and want to see this young man succeed despite her!

[@percivalgooglyeyes6178]

Mom probably has plenty of money for tats, smokes, and booze.

[@almaguillot8597]

She sounds like the type.

[@terriesmith2616]

...and fake nails. 💅

[@marilynbartlett1850]

@@terriesmith2616 don't forget the hair salon

[@alberttang6955]

She's almost certainly receiving government assistance. Probably works the motel desk job for cash under the table.

[@hazegrayprepper4396]

Probably gambling as well.

[@briankubik5041]

I want to borrow my riding lawn mower to this hard working motivated kid. You crushed his soul woman. What a pathetic way of controlling mindset.

[@Usernahbro]

You want to borrow the kids lawnmower?? Lol

[@DanielJimenez-hp7bb]

People stay in school! Don’t be this idiot^^^

[@briankubik5041]

@@Usernahbro to who does it say?

[@NeeNee_B.]

Lend, not borrow, FYI. Some ppl's first language isnt English, it happens

[@leetheaarceneaux8151]

My mother did me the same way and it made me not trust her and our relationship has been terrible because of it …

[@lisalister8002]

I could write a book on how parents steal from children! Here is one just for example - It's Christmas, the mom gives her 7 year-old a set a luggage. The luggage was 1 of 3 gifts, where the other gifts was a board game and the other was PJs. The 7 year-old doesn't need luggage as she doesn't ever travel. However, a month after Christmas, the mother tells her daughter that she needs to "borrow" her luggage to take it with her on a trip she is going on soon.

[@anneplowman9034]

Oh my gosh that's shameless. 😒

[@3ddiEdotcom]

1. Take 13-year-old to the bank and help him open his own bank account. 2. If #1 requires Mommie Dearest (MD), then take 13-year-old to a lawyer and/or judge, get MD's rights terminated, adopt 13-year-old. Repeat Step 1. 3. Help 13-year-old get his lawn hustle back up and running. 4. Christmas parting gift for MD: RESTRAINING ORDER. At least, that's what would happen in my world. 😡

[@janisegott5185]

It's not that simple to get parental rights terminated.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

My teenager opened a bank account at 15. The bank needs an ID card, which the boy's cousin (the caller) could help him get if the kid can get his birth certificate. My son did not have to make the account joint with a parent, though he did need to specify a beneficiary who was a adult (over 18). The gave him an ATM card and set up computer banking. In some states the thirteen year old might be old enough to apply for emancipation. If the caller is willing to put up the youth and help him with his business, the kid might be awarded emancipation from his mom/parents.

[@blacksnk]

I had a mom like this. Sad thing is, I just had to deal with it until my 18th birthday, when I moved out the house. She is crushing this kid’s soul. The fact she sold his lawn mower (something his uses to MAKE money) means cousin needs to have a honest chat with her and her piss poor critical thinking skills.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

I saw her selling the kid's lawnmower in a far more treacherous light. That mom deliberately took away her child's dignity and means to succeed behond the level of her poverty (I do not mean poverty in terms of a lack of her finances, I mean poverty in her total lack of a moral compass). That woman might be behaving out of pure envy, going so far to ensure that her child grows to believe that his only "hope" in life is to support the woman who bore him in her utter wretchedness. I hope someone 1) helps him bail on mom, 2) helps him restart that business of his; and 3) supports him if he chooses not "help out" the woman who bore him, who obviously chose to shred her mom card.

[@dudeorduuude5211]

I am going to guess it is vindictive. Pretty sad that she is sabotaging her 13 year olds dream and hard work.

[@genxx2724]

@@user-mv9tt4st9k It must have been very humiliating for him to tell his customers he couldn’t mow lawns anymore.

[@AO-nr7kl]

Let the kid store his money at your home going forward. Sit the boy down and tell him that his mother will have no retirement or money when she's 60 and she'll expect he take care of her. At that time he should be prepared to tell her he already did and she squandered it. Also make it clear to both kids they don't have to live this way but it's up to them.

[@TammyMayCormier]

That's despicable. He's going to be no contact when he's an adult and getting himself ahead in life. She will be always trying to keep him down.

[@alberttang6955]

She doesn't understand it yet, but she will desperately need her son's assistance when she gets old. Her evil behavior now has likely compromised any future support from the son.

[@user-pj3on8qm6e]

​@alberttang6955 agreed, when her son breaks the cycle of proverty, she will be alone, broke, with no grandkids by her side.

[@user-pj3on8qm6e]

​@@alberttang6955and as she is in the hospital dying of old age she will realize she is all alone for a few bucks

[@jos_meid]

The worst part is that even if she were right in her premise that kids should chip in when they start working, what she did was still wrong because she took away his ability to earn money. She slaughtered the golden goose; she ate the seed grain. I am of the belief that with very few exceptions, deliberately taking away someone's tools of their trade or their ability to make an honest buck is one of the more severe violations of that person's dignity.

[@hollyjobitner3285]

I used to hold the cash my now deceased sister would give me. She was saving for her next car insurance bill. Her then boyfriend would say she’ll open that envelope and steal part of your money. My sister knew I would never take from her. I asked her to seal the envelope and sign her name over part of the flap so that the boyfriend could see how wrong he was. They were living in a house my husband and I owned. Why would I need her couple hundred dollars? She threw him out! 💙

[@cameronvandevelde4186]

if this mom doesn't change, she will either lose her son because he won't tolerate it anymore or then will wonder/whine and complain why he moved out when he is old enough to drive

[@dorianvisser1922]

This is what you expect from an addict not a mother

[@sharona3048]

If he gets a nww lawn mower, he should keep it at his uncle's house and paint on it his name (or even his company) and phone number. As well as a sign that says "Not for sale. " That might help put off would be buyers. Prayers for that kid!! I hope he keeps trying!

[@baileyspeltbeefy1768]

Sadly I don’t think the paint idea would help much… where I am from people try that with a lot of valuable items and they end up getting stolen and sold, and people just paint over it There’s really not much morality when it comes to a lot of people

[@9liveslisa]

My Dad was a doctor and after my mom died and he remarried, he told my sister and I that if we wanted clothes, he would buy all the material we wanted and we could learn to sew. My sister and I really didn't want to make our own clothes though we did learn to sew, but she and I started babysitting... a lot. That's how we circumvented our Dad. Actually I think he was glad we weren't home a lot. But he never took our money. This kid's mother needs to get off her duff and earn a living wage so she doesn't rip her son off. I really feel sorry for that poor kid. He sounds like a great kid. Maybe his cousin can adopt him.

[@andrew8168]

Did your dad act that way when your mom was alive? If no, I would disown him in adulthood.

[@9liveslisa]

@@andrew8168 My parents divorced and everything changed for me and my siblings. It was a classic story of a wicked stepmother who had my father by the short hairs. We all left home early (I left at 15), and I reconnected with him after my stepmother died. I'm retired now and it's all ancient history, but I'm still haunted by all of it.

[@dallasgauthier3543]

@@9liveslisa your story changed enough times that its clearly not true 🤣 did your mother die or did your parents divorce?

[@9liveslisa]

@@dallasgauthier3543 It's very true. My parents divorced when I was 10. My mother died when I was 11, and my father remarried when I was 12. And I left home at 15. It was a very unhappy and chaotic time.

[@craigkathol2570]

I feel for this kid and I can relate on some level. My mom used to steal money that I earned as a teenager from mowing lawns as well.

[@laserwizard2]

Mom should be proud of her son and celebrating his initiative.

[@Simpleharmonica]

It’s these calls that make me hope/wish that Dave has a new mower sent to the callers house off air.

[@Muchacha2024]

She would sell that, too.

[@alleykeosheyan4779]

Hell if they started a "Go Fund Me," I'd donate to it! But the uncle should keep the mower at HIS house (along with a safe for the kid's money) and if POS momma tries to break in and steal it, have her @ss arrested. Her behavior is straight-up shameful!

[@shannonrose4916]

@@alleykeosheyan4779 Yes, mower would stay at uncles house.

[@Simpleharmonica]

@@Muchacha2024 yeah she would thats why I said sent to callers house.

[@baileyspeltbeefy1768]

Just so the pig witch could sell it again?

[@yungpuppz]

What kind of parent does this? I don’t care how broke I was I would NEVER steal from my kids. SMH

[@NatalieS-kh3ck]

My dad was a surgeon, and took my paychecks. I was 14 years old making $6 an hour scrubbing pots and pans in the summer but apparently a surgeon needed my paychecks.

[@mle011]

Why is it “I had to do what I had to do” when it comes to stealing your son’s riding lawnmower, and it’s not “I had to do what I had to do” when it comes to getting a second full time job??

[@anndeecosita3586]

I didn’t grow up like this because children aren’t expected to pay household bills in my family. Working was in order to have extras your parents either couldn’t afford or to teach you responsibilities. However, I have heard similar stories from people who come from generational poverty. Kids whose families have been evicted, lights turned off, no food in house at times. The kids have to start working early to help pay bills. I remember kids in high school who would fall asleep in class because they had worked all night.

[@Daveyboy28]

She really is a monster. She should be supporting her son so he can pull them all out of poverty and start creating generational wealth

[@princessleyla]

My mother did this to me and I will never forgive it.

[@joyt458]

What a horrible thing to do to your own child! What a bright and ambitious young man. I wish things turn around for him and he has peace happiness and success. God bless him.

[@RonniewbNC]

She sounds like another version of Mommy Dearest.

[@melanieb2132]

This story breaks my heart

[@QFUNNYNEWS]

Instead of stealing her son's money, the mother should've said, "How can I help you grow this faster son?". She should've looked at the situation as an "extra income side hustle" because she has a horrible career herself.🤷🏽‍♂️

[@gardenlady1293]

In most states the Jackie Coogan Law would protect earnings by children... she is most likely committing a crime.

[@heathermetz6576]

This is awful. I feel for this young man. My mom made my two sisters and I pay lot rent, electricity, car gas, etc during high school. If we wanted something for school, yearbook, pictures, etc we had to pay for it. We grew up, moved away, and stopped talking to her.

[@dlyras]

Similar thing happened to me. My father passed away when I was a teenager. I worked part time jobs on weekends, and as soon I finished school (I didn't go to college) I gained full time employment. The job didn't pay much but my mother always demanded about half of my paycheck because she was constantly crying (literally) that we can't pay bills. She was very controlling and manipulative. I couldn't take it anymore and eventually moved out. Fast forward about a decade, and I find out she had actually received life insurance money directly after my fathers death and the mortgage also got paid off by a separate policy. She also completely drained a bank account opened in my name intended to fund my college tuition. Yeah, my mom and I don't have much of a relationship anymore. Be careful how you treat your kids.

[@monicadhenderson8670]

My 2 teenage daughters worked at age 14! My husband said ok they need to pay us money 💰 I said “Oh no honey they do not” 1st we don’t need their money & them making their own money is getting them things they want. We provide their needs. They pay their tithes, save & spend! That’s what’s important at their age!!! Now when they are grown & working a real job and want to be at home 🏡 I would collect rent from them to save for them to move out. I did that for my older daughter so she could have first & last month rent for her own place!! Just because we were raised a certain way. It doesn’t mean that it’s right. My dad waited until I was grown and still living at home and he said you will pay the electric bill which was only $140 a month. I also paid my car payment and my car insurance and things that I wanted. Tithes came first!!! His goal was to show me that I needed to pay bills when I get out on my own. But he for sure did not need my money!!

[@Treshar]

There is a big difference between "pitching in" and just flat out stealing. If you want someone to pitch in, especially a child, you discuss it with them and maybe you come up with some sort of average income and pitching in a percentage of that.

[@RebelPaladin1]

May the Lord God of Heaven bless this young man. Young man, if you read this, keep after it. You will win. Observe your mother's life as an example of what not to do. Let she who stole steal no more.

[@katiejon17]

This mother is clearly a single mother with two kids and two different baby daddy’s. At her income, with two dependents, she is full welfare. She’s getting all kinds of subsidies. To the caller - you *can’t* fix her... she’s trash. For the most part, you need to stay of it. What she’s doing is wrong, but it’s her choice as parent. The very best that *you* can do from your role is to talk with the kid, offer that he takes a few buck home to put in his drawer for mom to steal, but the rest he gives to *you*. When he wants to buy a mower - *you* buy it with his money so that it is in your name. You keep it at *your* house for him to use. And if that cousin of yours tries to sell off *your* property, call the cops. Leave her a few bucks to fulfill her need to steal from her own kid though. The rest - you hold for him. My goodness, she’s trash.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

I would not leave her any cash to steal. She does not need to be enabled.

[@micahparker6924]

My mom did similar to me. Shes horrible with money, and Im still trying to change the habits I learned. I was working when I was 15 and 16 full time. She said she would keep the money for me in a bank account, and come to find out she was "borrowing" it and "will pay it back". In her language that means youll never see that shit again. Last time I trust her with anything lile that, even now.

[@andrewcalderwood2693]

Tell him you’ll hold his money for him.

[@Truckerdaddy]

I remember when i started working in high school. That was my money because i earned it. My parents didnt ask me for nothing, they just didnt buy stuff for me like they did before that. It wasnt until i graduated that i had to pitch in while i lived there.

[@teoshaetuk3616]

Im in tears about this so sad

[@royveteto4134]

i had a mom like this who was very selfish and would take from me whatever she wanted and she didn't care what it did to me from taking candy i got trick or treating or money i got at a job. now i don't have anything to do with her

[@home4life505]

Her last resort couldve been to borrow from him and repay w/ interest. Or ask to be an employee of her son. Help him build his "empire."

[@harrisonwintergreen1147]

A high school friend of mine didn't talk to his mother for 20 years after she stole his money from a summer job

[@outsidethebox262]

Dave was holding everything in .... you can hear the deathly whisper in his voice... If i were him though, I'd tell the kid to tell his mom that he borrowed my lawnmower, I'll keep his 50% of earnings and invest on his behalf, let the mom take 25% and the kid can have 25%

[@patriciam.909]

This breaks my heart.💔

[@JustinCase780]

Yea when I was 9 or so my six year older brother used to steal from my paper route money in my top dresser drawer to buy his weed or whatever. It blows.

[@geraldtone5914]

That's a wicked 6 year old. They grow up so fast.

[@jonathansaindon788]

She can’t accept he is working harder than her

[@willelliott5052]

He needs to get away from his loser "mother". She will only bring him down towards her extremely poor character. I suspect that she does not want to earn more in the interest of continued welfare benefits. I also suspect that the money that fell short of bills was spent on cigarettes and who knows what else.

[@Golf2foto]

My mother did this. Twice. And once used my name to order stuff. No need to mention that she’s out of my life.

[@brentayers3132]

What’s the motivation for him to work and save? She’s perpetuating a cycle of poverty. When people feel they’ve been stolen from, it fractures their spirit and kindness. She’s never going to have any money, so when she’s old and needs something and he has money, guess who isn’t going to help. He’s just gonna say, “I got bills to pay.”

[@marthamette3018]

Why in the world would the lawn mower be sold? It is the tool to earn money. You would think the parent would support this.

[@tombellamy7167]

If the mom does crap like this I'll bet she's already jacked up her son's credit by opening up utilities in his name since her name is probably on the deadbeat list. 13 year old kid needs some decoy safes to hide his money if he's going to keep cash in the house.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

Mom sold his lawn mower and completely demoralized him by effectively trashing the business the kid had started. I would talk to relatives or grandparents and find out what the emancipation laws are for his state. If he can secure his birth certificate, he can get an ID card and open a bank account.

[@RichMind-2327]

We need to be careful with family members crossing the line, once they do it they will feel comfortable to keep taking advantage of others

[@jacobmoreno6339]

This guy should take the boy under his wing. He's doing great things. There's ways to do it so the "Mom" can't steal from him and break his spirit.

[@AnnaWitte-f8f]

My husband came from a poor single mother and she would never done this crap.

[@luannkelly5071]

Oh no! This kid needs to find another place to keep his money and his lawn mowers. She is stealing!.

[@antonbruckner7329]

What a dreadful lesson for the boy. She has just taught him that hard work is not worth it.

[@cita_m]

This story was my whole adolescence.

[@LisaWright-ri2ki]

I'm Puerto Rican and this sounds like a Puerto Rican mom 😔

[@giorgiotommasini6828]

This kind of behavior is exactly why this woman is on thr brink of homelessness, and will always be. I hope the kid menages to leave that home as soon as possible and never looks back.

[@Roxality]

Walmart pays $15 starting in most places. My husband worked there for 2 years, was employee of the quarter and only had a 30 cent raise. He was an amazing employee and people still sing his praises. This was all recently.

[@georgeslupski5987]

I never realized Walmart is $20/ hr

[@sprint7412]

I use to collect lose change around the house/car. I collected a good bit. One day Mom asked if she could take the quarters because she needed money. I didn't want to give it but said it was ok in the end. That money was actually hers to begin with. She tends to pay with cash but doesn't use the change. She still asked me though because she understood just taking it back could make me upset. I was around 8 years old. I cannot wrap my mind around any mother thinking that stealling this much from her young son is fair. If she really is struggling then she should have ASKED! I'm sure the son would have given her some money.

[@chasityshorter7053]

I was that kid working at McDonald's at 13 years old. A drug addicted step parent, a struggling mother with a poverty mindset both stealing from me. Damn I remember those times 😢💔. If you can't afford kids, don't have them.

[@jeanniesabol5410]

Father did this to me. Borrowed money and didn't repay it. Smoking, drinking, purchasing coffee, visiting his girlfriend in NYC.

[@ricksanchezsflask8794]

Kid ought to hide his money somewhere not in the house and seek an emancipation lawyer asap.

[@rain73ful]

He's only thirteen. He's too young to be emancipated, unless the cousin takes him in. Sad story.

[@ricksanchezsflask8794]

@@rain73ful not saying he should do it tomorrow. Save up money and do it in a few years.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

He has no means to continue his business now. This likely EXACTLY what the woman who bore him wanted for him: to not succeed beyond her own financial and moral poverty.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

​@@rain73fulEmancipation laws vary from state to state. When I was growing up, a child had to be fourteen to file for emancipation (California). A classmate of mine had a paper route and an afternoon job. He had grandparents willing to give him a place to stay and a messy situation with his parents. He filed for emancipation at the beginning of the school year and three months later had it granted. He told us the courts wanted to know that he could support himself, which he could. His parents fought it, and in the end did it seemed they did not want their family life made public.

[@beaniemac]

One of the few times I'm in total agreement with Dave. This mom is despicable

[@RPMcMurphy33]

Dave makes an excellent point at the end. She really ought to be ashamed of herself for having to depend on a 13-year-old for money. She needs to cowgirl up and go get a better job.

[@tashinaking3198]

At 12, my mom was working 3 jobs because we had relocated to another state. She didn't have the income she had previously working for the state, so she sat me down and told me she couldn't buy the things I wanted to wear because she was broke. She only had enough money for us to survive until she could land a better job. I started working at 14. She was doing a little better, but still not where she was before we moved. Even though I'm sure she needed something, she asked other adults because she surely never asked me for my money. I was allowed to spend my money however I wanted. Parents are responsible for their children, not the other way around. 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@jermaineishmael7225]

The damage this woman has done is beyond her comprehention, she will never know the full extrent of it because her son will more than likely be suffering from her actions long after shes dead and beried........this is beyond sad

[@JustinCase780]

This caller should call the cops on that crook while he has witnessed it from her house. Asking them what is the Ramsey solution?? Dude, get on it yourself.

[@miketheyunggod2534]

Ok sure.

[@melanieb2132]

Mothers, unfortunately, can steal from their minor children. It's not illegal

[@JustinCase780]

@@melanieb2132 And, scare her up a bit and make her feel it. It's domestic abuse.

[@melanieb2132]

@@JustinCase780 i would call the cops just for the cops to say, "I can't arrest you, but I wish I could.". This woman is evil

[@kbanghart]

​@@melanieb2132right, meaning it's not stealing. My son has been a real pain in the a, and I gladly take $ from him if I need.

[@SpoonHurler]

I don't disagree with the idea that some of the kids money may need to be included but selling his stuff without his permission is beyond the pale. And whatever the kid needs to share needs to extremely clear upfront about how much to pitch in... it would probably motivate the kid especially if his mother really needed it. Also sheshould be helping him out, she can talk her kid up and get him more work, plan out a schedule, all that jazz... but that sounds like work.

[@loriej9297]

This poor kid's mother is scum. My best advice is for the caller to help the kid hide his money and his assets so the scummy mother can't get any access to them. She needs to get a full-time job to pay her bills. Scummy, scummy, scummy.