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Strollerderby
Mom Selling Baby Naming Rights on eBay
Another out-of-work pregnant woman, another auction on eBay in the hopes that some mega corporation would love to see little Pepsi-Cola Wal-Mart Drummond running around Arkansas.
Do I feel sorry for his desperate mother? I’m trying.
Oh, I’m trying. Lavonne Drummond already has six kids and says the cost of childcare for them keeps her from getting a job.
Her husband is military – stationed in Virginia – and he helps support the family on his naval salary (which I can report probably isn’t much – it all depends on his rank, but the military is not known as a particularly generous employer). In her eBay Q&A, she says he’s flown the coop although the Fox News article skips out that crucial detail. But with Lavonne and the kids living states away from him, Mr. Drummond would likely not receive the military housing allowance that’s factored in as part of Navy pay for her residence (as they’re already paying for his in Virginia).
It’s Lavonne’s sister who pays all her bills – literally all of them (rent, phone, water and gas). Lavonne told Fox News there are no jobs that will support a family of her size. So that totally calls for bringing another one into the brood, right? Any jobs out there in this economy that support seven kids? Anyone?
Yes, hindsight is 20/20 and all that, but let’s throw the OctoMom argument at Ms. Drummond. If you’re broke, you shut down the babymaking factory and make things work until you can get out from under your bills. THEN you try for baby number seven. You don’t saddle your kid with a name that will get his butt kicked seven ways to Sunday every time he steps on the playground just because you couldn’t handle money.
Lavonne’s response to that, by the way: ” i will honor the name chosen, but i pray that the winning bidder has a big heart and not get to eccentric.”
Or maybe this doesn’t matter at all. When bidders asked her to provide proof that she’s actually pregnant, Lavonne Drummond demurred claiming “a woman’s vanity” is keeping her from putting up a picture of her pregnant self. Too embarrassed to be seen with a big belly, but not worried that your kid will be embarrassed by his name? What a mother.
Feeling voyeuristic? Check out the auction – people are a’bidding!
Image: EBay
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13 Comments
[...] sure you’ve already read all about it, but yes, a mom-to-be really is (was?) selling naming rights for her son on eBay, in hopes of raising enough cash to put food on the table. Or is she? When I checked eBay, the [...]
Sunday Summary: 8/9/09 « Appellation Mountain commented on Aug 09 09 at 1:39 pmto clarify commented on Aug 06 09 at 4:57 pmI just want to comment that the comment “military is not known as a particularly generous employer” is a bit upsetting. Sure, monthly take home pay isn’t much, but factor in housing, health care, and other benefits, not looking so shabby?
jeannesager commented on Aug 06 09 at 5:05 pmTo Clarify: That comes from years of talking to military families, including some in my own family. But I’d also point out that the Drummonds are legally married, and Lavonne is eligible for food stamps – which means the family’s salary puts them within poverty guidelines.
Tara commented on Aug 07 09 at 10:24 amI have so much to say, but so much of it is just not politically correct that I will not write it. But I do agree she should never have gotten pregnant if she new she couldn’t afford it. There are so many protective measures she could have taken, even if some of them will make you depressed. (lol- from another one of your articles)
aaaaaa commented on Aug 07 09 at 12:30 pmIt’s the 6 kids on the income that put her in the poverty level….not the income itself…how many incomes can support 6 kids without help? My husband and I make good money for a family of 4….a family of 8 +? Not so much…it would probably put us in the poverty level as well
zaksmom commented on Aug 07 09 at 1:52 pmNot to mention the absent dad- he may have skipped out after she got pregnant, just like my soon to be ex husband did. She didn’t get pregnant by herself, folks.
Brad commented on Aug 08 09 at 11:47 amLavonne will be on the Morning Jungle show to discuss the auction, the winning name, take phone calls from supporters and those who disagree with her actions and much more THIS MONDAY AUGUST 10th at 9:00 a.m. eastern morningjungle.com
photolaur commented on Aug 10 09 at 11:50 amwell, let’s just hope that whatever the winning name is, it’s something easily nicknameable…. “wal-mart” can always be “wally,” but not sure what one could do for “burger king” or “GoldenPalaceEvents.com”
Elizabeth commented on Aug 11 09 at 6:49 pmWell I can agree that she should have TRIED to get pregnant, but lets face it sometimes people do take measures and still get pregnant. I got pregnant with baby number 4 on ovral which if any of you know what it is it is the strongest form of birth control pill on the market, I was on them for other medical reasons as well but it is one of the very few pills that can be used as an equivilent to the morning after pill. AND we just found out we are pregnant with baby number 5 (there is a set of identcal twins that were baby 2 and 3 as well) when I had a mirena put in last September. So baby number 5 is also a high risk because of the Mirena, but my husband is getting a vascetomy AND I am getting my tubes tied after this. So we can not always ASSUME that people don’t take measures NOT to get pregnant.
katsmom commented on Aug 13 09 at 6:54 pmI love the way some here are so presumptuous about ‘she shouldn’t have gotten pregnant’….accidents STILL do happen, even when you’re using the best of birth control. I should know…I got pregnant after having a tubal ligation! However, there are other options she could look into: such as if the husband has ‘abandoned’ her…she could be going after him for child support either through the state or the military. Also, maybe the people in her community should step up to the plate and help her out so she doesn’t have to take such a drastic step! This is clearly an act of desperation. Why can’t anyone see that? or are they too busy pretending they’re so infallible and judging others?
poor kids commented on Aug 21 09 at 11:16 amActually there IS a 100% form of birth control. It’s called keeping your legs closed. If her husband is states away and ‘flown the coop’, my guess is that he isn’t the father of baby #7. If you already have too many kids to feed, are sponging off your sister for shelter and utilities, then be responsible and stop having kids. I was a virgin until my mid twenties because I couldn’t afford to have a child on my own and I couldn’t bring myself to get an abortion. It’s hard, it’s not entirely fun, but it’s doable. Especially if your whole approach is “don’t get pregnant”. If she’s really taking care of all these kids, when does she have the TIME to meet a man and have sex anyway?
Firepower commented on Aug 25 09 at 4:53 pmComments These days nobody wants to hear about personal responsibility and consequences becuase we dont teach those things to our kids any more. 6 kids unemployed and pregnant, this would be the poster child for lack of planning and resposinbility. But too late now for that so now the tax payers foot the bill. Thanks!!
Rob M commented on Aug 26 09 at 2:30 pmYou people: mind your own business.
Thanks.
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