Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Charlotte Robinson: LISTEN: How Gay And Lesbian Couples Become…
New Turnaround Teacher 'Trying To Get It Right' In Tough School
Mom Forced Son to Kill Hamster as Punishment for Bad Grades
Filed under: In The News, Weird But True
Sure, many parents can be strict about homework and grades, but one Georgia mom allegedly took discipline a step too far when she demanded that her son's pet be killed as punishment. Now she's facing some punishment of her own in the county jail.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that 38-year-old mom Lynn Middlebrooks Geter was arrested after she forced her 12-year-old son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as a punishment for earning a bad grade. The boy told a teacher about the incident, which reportedly happened at the family's home in Warm Springs, Ga. The teacher reported the mom to the state's Division of Family and Child Services and the local child welfare authorities then called police.
The Meriwether County sheriff arrested Geter, who was charged with one count each of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery. She was being held at the Meriwether County Jail, 90 minutes outside of Atlanta, according to the newspaper report.
Related: Respect Your Pet ... or Else
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Parenting Advice on Motivating High School Kids
Non-profit executive Kyung Yoon contrasts her approach to what has become known as the Tiger Mom approach. With her two sons, Yoon makes it a point to embrace their individuality and tailor supportive parenting approaches to motivate each of the boys.
-
Mass. Mom Convicted for Withholding Son's Cancer Meds
A Massachusetts mom is found guilty for withholding chemotherapy drugs from her son.
-
Carlo Ponti Honors Mom Sophia Loren with Song
Cameras caught up with Carlo Ponti, the internationally renowned conductor, who has led the Russian National Orchestra in Neapolitan Song, a tribute to his iconic mother Sophia Loren. In the interview the classical conductor talks about his love of music, growing up the son of world-famous parents and how Sophia likes being a grandmother.Ponti talks of growing up in the spotlight as Sophia Loren and famed Italian film producer Carlo Ponti's son.
-
A Future in Music for Alicia Keys' Son Egypt?
At just over a year old, it's beginning to look like Egypt, son of Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys and musician Swizz Beatz might be following in his musical parents footsteps after all! We met up with Alicia on Thursday night at the eighth annual Keep a Child Alive event in NYC for which Keys is co-founder, and the new mom couldn't help but gush about her pride and joy's newly growing interest in the family trade.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 7)
1-22-2010 @ 6:22PM
lizabeth said...She needs to be jailed and the boy taken away from her forever. No visitation.
Reply
1-25-2010 @ 2:41PM
Deborah DeStefano said...Gosh, I couldn't agree more. The mother is SICK.
1-24-2010 @ 4:50PM
Rother Jewell Meetze said...Amen! If she'd have her child do this to a helpless animal. What else would or has- forced her child to do?
A mom & grandmother-
Jewell
1-24-2010 @ 4:53PM
ccwstauffer said...What she needs besides harsh punishment is to be hung upside down for a few days so that blood can get to that brain of hers which is not functioning at a human level.
1-24-2010 @ 5:52PM
Baku-chan said...How disgusting! It's people like this that make me ashamed of my species! This woman is sick in the head and deserves every second she gets in prison!
1-25-2010 @ 1:29AM
Richard Rodriguez said...Maybe the mother is trying to train her son as a sociopathic serial killer! Let's find out by asking the son to club mommy on the head with a hammer!
1-22-2010 @ 6:38PM
PinkThenRed said...She should be held responsible for this. I am not sure the kid should be taken away forever, depends on if there has been other abusive incidents. There is no excuse for what she did and she needs help choosing better ways to discipline. My main concern is for this young man. I also hope he gets the help he needs and that is ability to be able to trust is not forever damaged. He needs a soft place to fall right now away from his seriously confused mother. Thankfully a teacher took the time to listen to this child who was obviously hurting.
Reply
1-24-2010 @ 2:54PM
JCastle said...If the woman can do this to a poor defensless animal, she can and could do that to anything else, including humans! Thats how serial killers start! She should NEVER get a child or anything else back for that matter! I wouldn't trust her with a pet rock.
1-24-2010 @ 3:05PM
Carolyn said...I HAD A FATHER WHO KICKED MY DOG OFF THE BACK PORCH AND THE DOG LAID IN THE YARD WITH ME BY HIM UNTIL HE DIED. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW 70 YEARS OLD AND REMEMBER THIS TO THIS DAY. I LET HIM KNOW THAT I REMEMBERED THIS AND TOLD HIM THAT IF HE EVER HIT OR INJURED ANYONE AGAIN THAT I WOULD CALL THE POLICE. THIS WAS WHEN I WAS 14 AND OLDER AND UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT. I HAVE HERMIT CRABS AND I WOULD NOT THINK OF DOING THIS TO THEM. I HAVE TAUGHT MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN LOVE AND KINDNESS FOR ALL PETS. I HOPE THIS CHILD WILL BE OKAY IN FUTURE YEARS AND THAT SHE HAS TO PAY FOR WHAT SHE DID.
1-24-2010 @ 7:40PM
DeLorean said...Carolyn My God...... That story rips my heart out. Im sorry to say but you already knew this, your father was evil and mean. What a horrible thing to have to replay in your mind everyday. Bless you and your family.
1-22-2010 @ 7:57PM
Bird said...There is just no words to discribe how I feel about this! Take away the kids phone or his computer, But make him kill his own hamster with a hammer? Some people just shouldn't have kids!
Reply
1-22-2010 @ 9:10PM
Suz said...I agree ... a license should be required to bear and raise small human beings.
1-22-2010 @ 8:43PM
Jim said...There is something severely twisted about an individual who would force someone to kill a hamster with a hammer. When I say twisted, I am talking dead cat parts in a shoe box under the bed twisted. This Mother needs an evaluation!
Reply
1-23-2010 @ 8:04AM
Cares said...This lady does infact need a serious mental evaluation. The child should NEVER be allowed back into the home. I feel she could cause him such mental trauma that he becomes a someone who hates women etc. and become a serial killer or something along that line. This poor child will need a lot of counseling after that. This lady is really demented and needs a mental Dr.
I pray they will give this cruelty of all involved some serious jail time.
People need to realize abuse of any kind to child, animals, any living thing is not acceptable.
Reply
1-24-2010 @ 6:36PM
Pamela said...That is just what I was thinking. Incidents like this are in the backgrounds of several serial killers.(Silence of theLambs).The mother, or should I say "monster", needs to be put away for the rest of her life.This is just extraordinarily painful to hear about. I hope the child can be helped with another home and therapy, and eventually a new pet!
1-26-2010 @ 10:36AM
Kathy said...I couldn't agree more with your comments. This woman needs serious mental therapy and no child living with her.
1-23-2010 @ 8:23AM
sally said...FRY HER ASS
Reply
1-24-2010 @ 2:32PM
Roxie said...As a mother, it wasn't always easy deciding the most fitting punishment for my children but there is no excuse for this. She has taught her child that violence is the answer and to withhold his love for fear what he loves will be taken away. I'm with you, Sally - in 3 little words you summed up the entire situation!
1-26-2010 @ 9:53PM
Bernice Gordon said...Bernice 1/24/10
I feel sorry for this child who was crying for help and now has to face the difficulty of having sent his mother to jail. Forget her focus on helping this brave child to handle a very difficult situation he won't easily forget.
1-23-2010 @ 12:13PM
Amanda said...there is no telling what this child has had to endure from his mother. There were other avenues for punishment she could have taken like video games, television, phone usage. It's a good thing she didn't decide to take away any of his "human friends"!!
Reply