How would you handle this situation?
By jeepstergirl
@jeepstergirl (396)
United States
January 4, 2007 9:06am CST
When my daughter was about 3 years old, we were in Wal Mart, and I was looking at air fresheners for my car. Later, when I got home, I saw that my daughter had a tree-shaped one shoved into her back pocket. When I asked her about it, she said it was just laying on the floor (it was unwrapped) so she didn't know it was stealing if it was not in a package and laying on the floor. So, I simply explained to her that any time you take anything from a store without paying for it, wrapped or not, is stealing. She is a smart kid, and understood what I was telling her.
I'm wondering, how would you have handled the situation. I could see taking her back to the store and returning it if she'd intentionally stolen something, but she didn't realize what she was doing was wrong. What do you think?
5 responses
@practical4wheels (50)
• United States
5 Jan 07
My son did this at age 4. It was a toy car. I took him inside and asked for a manager. I made him give back the car and say he was sorry. I did not yell at him or threaten him in any way. The manager was very nice and told him he could keep it, but I said only if he could pay for it. My son thought about this for a bit then asked the manager if he could give him any chores to do. I laughed and was about to take him away to leave, but the manager said if he could put the other toy cars back on the shelf he would have earned enough money to pay for the car he took. In the end he learned a VERY important lesson without any stressfull side effects. IF they do not learn what might happen they will not be afraid to do it again and again, ending up in jail.
If she understood what you were telling her then she realized she was doing wrong. Keep an eye on her and when it happens again you will need to make a bigger deal over it or it wont sink in ever. I dont think this one time will ruin her by any means. You were being a great mom by telling her it was wrong and teaching her morals and values.
1 person likes this
@jeepstergirl (396)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Great story! Sounds like you've got a smart little man! Thanks for sharing.
@dmanuel (411)
•
6 Jan 07
it was very nice of you to control your temper and explained to your daughter what she did. Since she didn't mean to steal the item, it would really be good to accompany her back to the store and return it. i am so proud of you. seems like parenthood is your specialty. :)
@lesh3433 (10)
• United States
4 Jan 07
i agree with you on the fact that she didn't understand what she did was wrong. and i think you handled it the best possible way.
my son stole some baseball cards from a store once, and i made him return the cards, and he had to tell the store manager what he did and apologize, only difference here is that he was 12 and he DID no what he was doing.
1 person likes this
@SuperSam (172)
• Canada
4 Jan 07
On 2 occasions in my childhood my mom made me return the things I stole, she made me return 2 penny candies I stole at about age 6, and a hot wheels at age 7 or 8. That is probably how I would have dealt with the situation by walking her to a register and taking it back.
1 person likes this
