Mum wants daughter to pay $300 fine for vehicle ‘mistake’

Teaching teenagers responsibility is one of the trickiest parts of parenting, and something one mum is trying to do.

But her lesson has been branded “too harsh” by her ex-husband.

“I co-parent my daughter Ava, 18f, who has just passed her driving test, and my ex and I bought her a car,” the mum explained in a post on Reddit’s ‘Am I The A–hole’ thread.

“Within a week of owning it, Ava parked in a tow-away zone, and it was towed.”

READ MORE: Meghan to take a break from As ever, months after it’s launch

“I told her to take responsibility for her mistake and pay the $100 fee, as her insurance doesn’t cover it, warning her that they can add all sorts of fees if she waits too long,” the mum continued.

But there was an issue, she was about to go away with friends. 

“Ava had booked a weekend away with some friends and had already paid for her share of the hotel and transport, so I told her to use part of the fun money she saved for the trip on the fee,” she wrote.

READ MORE: Mary Fowler has no intention of moving home

“She still had time to pick up an extra shift at work to make it up before the trip, or go away with $100 less.”

Ava decided not to pay it and went on the trip.

“As my husband and I refused to, and by the time she came back from the trip, she got hit with a ~$300 something bill as they added a daily storage fee, and a hook-up fee,” the mum continued.

“I told her that her actions have consequences and that I had warned her and she was old enough to drive, so she needs to take full responsibility.

“She told her dad, who paid off the towing company for her, and I am upset that she hasn’t learnt a lesson from this.”

“I tried to speak to my ex, but he said she made a mistake and it’s only money which can come back any time.”

So, the mum has taken her daughter’s keys and told her that she can pay the towing fee to her instead.

“Her dad thinks I am being too harsh, after Ava called him to complain about me,” she added.

The mum has asked Redditers for advice and a lot of people agreed that it’s going to be a learning moment, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

“I think that you were right about making Ava pay for the tow charges, but I also think you should have communicated that with her dad, too, so you’d both be on the same page,” one commented.

“The best consequence for her was the natural one, and Dad bailed her out of that one. But she’s about to leave high school (probably) and the real world is gonna come at her fast,” another replied.

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Signs you live with a teenager: In photos

Another suggested: “I think you should’ve paid the $100 fee, gotten the car out of impound, and refused to give her the car back until she reimbursed you. That’s what I would’ve done…”

READ MORE: We got hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, here’s what we think

“I would say, having her pay you that money that her father already paid…that’s a no go. why does she need to pay you?” another Redditer questioned.

“Frankly, she’s an adult and the car belongs to her. I don’t think you’re really in a position to keep her from driving. It’s unfortunate dad bailed her out, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” one person wrote.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.