We are against stealing at our house. Thanks to a cartoon 10 Commandments DVD, we know that God and the ancient Israelites are against it too.
While we all understand (at least we do now) that stuffing a die cast Lightening McQueen car up one's shirt and walking out of Toys 'R Us with it is wrong, we're still working on not filling our water cups with soda at Burger King.
"I couldn't find the water spout, so I filled up my cup with Coke instead," explained Kellen.
When Camber returned to the table, her cup was covered with a lid.
"I got water," she said as she took a big sip. Orange liquid filled the straw.
At least Cortlen was honest.
"I didn't want water, so I got Sprite," he said.
You would have thought I was a suspect on America's Most Wanted the way that my kids looked at me when I ordered them to pour their stolen beverages down the drain.
"We just stole a little bit," whined Camber as she slouched to the drink dispenser and poured out her cup, which was mostly ice.
That was true of everyone except for Cortlen. Based on the contents of his overflowing cup, it is safe to say that he stole a lot.
***
I'm sure your kids have never stolen anything but if they had (hypothetically of course), what would they have taken and from where?
While we all understand (at least we do now) that stuffing a die cast Lightening McQueen car up one's shirt and walking out of Toys 'R Us with it is wrong, we're still working on not filling our water cups with soda at Burger King.
"I couldn't find the water spout, so I filled up my cup with Coke instead," explained Kellen.
When Camber returned to the table, her cup was covered with a lid.
"I got water," she said as she took a big sip. Orange liquid filled the straw.
At least Cortlen was honest.
"I didn't want water, so I got Sprite," he said.
You would have thought I was a suspect on America's Most Wanted the way that my kids looked at me when I ordered them to pour their stolen beverages down the drain.
"We just stole a little bit," whined Camber as she slouched to the drink dispenser and poured out her cup, which was mostly ice.
That was true of everyone except for Cortlen. Based on the contents of his overflowing cup, it is safe to say that he stole a lot.
***
I'm sure your kids have never stolen anything but if they had (hypothetically of course), what would they have taken and from where?
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44 comments
Oh my gosh Jana, my kids would *SO* do that--if left to their own devices! Which is why I never take them anywhere... ;)
My son once stole from a trinket shop a foam shark on a stick that when you clamp the handle the mouth opens. When we discovered he had taken it, we marched him right back to the store and made him apologize. He was 4 at the time.
My kids would do that too, which is why I just let then have the soda ;)
My oldest "stole" play money from a toy cash register in Kindergarten. His teacher figured that he was just playing with it, put it in his pocket and forgot it was there. But to "teach him a lesson", she made him serve a lunch detention.
He's now in 6th grade and that scared him "straight". LOL
When my now 11yo was 2, I had her out Christmas shopping. We were in Bath & Body Works, left there, walked to the other end of the very crowded mall, where she pulled out a small star shaped soap bottle. I knew the right thing to do was to take it back, but the thought of fighting my way back through that crowd, like salmon swimming upstream, wasn't appealing. Of course, being the rule follower that I am, I did go back and gave the soap to an employee who looked at me like I was crazy for even bringing it back. I'd like to say it taught my daughter a valuable lesson, but sadly, she doesn't remember it at all! At least I know I did the right thing!
Yup. My boys all did this just last week! Their "water" had a slightly greenish/yellow tint to it. Down the drain it went!
My eldest took some chocolates out of a fridge in a store bathroom just last week, too. He took them back, paid for them, and they went in the trash.
Honesty is important!
Oh, my five-finger bandit decided he was going to steal a small bottle of glue and a pack of curly ribbon from Office Max. We marched him back into the store, and made him confess and pay for what he stole (out of his own money). The nice lady at Office Max told him that he wouldn't go to jail...THIS TIME....but if it happend again, to the slammer!
When we got home, he said "But Mommy, I wanted to make you something pretty!"....WOW....way to work it, baby.
Robin
http://alabamaslackermama.blogspot.com/
My oldest (8) took trinkets from the school book fair. He was so sucessful at shoving them down his pants that he went back for 2nds during lunch.
A few days latter I discovered all trinkets in his backpack. We made an appointment with the school student services lady. She just made him return what had not been opened and pay for what could not be returned--out of his own allowance. He also had to write a letter of aplogy to the book fair lady.
I did not think that this was enough of a consequence. The total taken was $19.32. I made him do his and his 2 younger brothers laundry for 19 weeks. Kind of like repenting, we make things clean. At least that is the analogy I used for him. He was doing laundry the entire summer. It was great for me!
He has not taken anything again. Also, I now have an 9 year old that is capable of helping with laundry and just glad he does not have to do it all himself.
My kids have never brought home toys from a friends house in their pockets. Never.
What?...
My 4 yr. old son decided since I wouldn't buy him candy at the check-out that he would just open up a package and begin to help himself. I took it away before he got the first bite, and made him buy the candy with his own money. Since I couldn't let him enjoy the spoils of war, I ate the candy bar in front of him on the way home, all the way remarking how glad I was that he bought me a candy bar.
When my daughter was 8 we were at the grocery store, I was at the deli meats counter waiting on the lady to slice my lunch meat and there was the Brock's candy display next to the counter you know the one where the individual candies are, I only took my attention away from her for a minute to talk to the lady about how thin I wanted the meat cut, as we walked away to finish our shopping I noticed a "bulge" in Rheaven's from pockets. I didnt let her know I saw it but as we were doing our shopping I began to tell her about how exensive food was and that stores keep having to raise there prices because some people steal things so the stores have to put in cameras and hire police officers to try and keep this from happening and that makes the prices go up even more. Then I through in the kicker, I told her the sad thing is about this is that there are alot of kids who's mommies and daddies can barely afford to buy food so when prices go up these kids suffer because they dont get as much to eat. As I looked over at my daughter she had tears rolling down her face so I asked her what was wrong and I will never forget what she said. "Mommy I just made it where some kid out there is not going to get to eat today". I asked her how and she pulled the cany out of her pocket. We walked back to the Brock's candy and she put it back, she is 13 now and has never taken anything else. When she was 10 she started an annual food drive at our local parks and recreation dept. Needless to say I am very proud of her. Sorry this was so long.
My now 9 yr. old daughter stole a braclet from a beach shop when she was 4... we had stopped to buy the ever popular hermit crabs on our way home, and I didn't notice the shiny new shell braclet she was wearing until half way back to Durham..
When we got home I helped her write a note to the store, and we mailed it back. Thought that had done the trick.
Then.. earlier last year (dear Amy will know)she was having a playdate with a friend and upon arriving home I noticed she had a new tube of American Girl lipgloss. She said that she thought if she took it, she would be able to go back for another playdate (to give it back of course!) After making her apologize to her friend, and friend's Mom.. I think she's learned her lesson!
But now my 4 yr. old son keeps bringing home beads and legos from preschool.. b/c "Mommy they look just like mine at home, I think preschool took them from me!".
The joys of teaching right and wrong! :)
I so would of done what you did...
My daughter stole a little hairbrush from the Disney Store, which we didn't know about until we were halfway to our car and she started to brush her hair. So, we made her go back to the store and apologize. We went back to the car thinking we were good parents for having her apologize to the manager. We get to the car and my daughter reaches into her pocket and says "since you didn't find this one can I keep it". Going back to a store once to return a stolen item is okay. Going to a store the second time 5 minutes later to return another stolen items, gets stares and looks from all the workers. And since that day my daughter must now get a pat down before we leave any store.
I am constantly finding unloaded gift cards from Walmart. I am assuming that when my partner in crime has the girls in the cart, and he is paying for whatever he is buying, that my 2 1/2 year old daughters take as many gift cards as they can. Ugh.
When my boys were about 8 & 6, they stole some Pokemon cards from Wal-Mart on a Saturday. The next day after church, they came up to me & showed me what they did. When we got home, I called Wal-Mart & talked to the manager. I told her that I wanted to bring the boys back to return the cards. She asked if I would like to have their security officer speak with them. "SURE", I said. We get there, and they take us into this little closet size office with tvs for the hidden cameras. While waiting, the manager shows them the tvs & how they can see everything in the store. At that moment, in walks their security officer that is - no kidding - about 7 feet tall & pure muscle. He looks down at them & explains what they did was wrong, why it was wrong & that if they EVER did it again, they would go to jail... even at their young ages. They were sitting there frozen with looks of horror on their faces.
Then the manager told them that if they ever did that again, that their mommy would never be able to shop in Wal-Mart again. It was at that point that my 6yr old started crying and said, "please don't do that. This is my mommy's favorite store, and she would cry if she couldn't come here anymore."
They never stole anything before that, and I'm happy to say that they've never stolen anything after, either. They still remember the big security guard & how much he scared them.
Oh my gosh, you guys are cracking me up. I can just imagine all of the scenarios...too funny.
I especially love the unloaded Wal-Mart gift cards...
keep 'em comin'
Last year, my then 3 year old son stole something from his classroom every day. Beads, little blocks, an occasional small animal - it got sort of embarrasing bringing them back every. single. day.
If you knew the mark up on fountain drinks you wouldn't feel so bad about the kids stealing. I am guilty of adding a little "flavor" to my kids' water glasses (you know mostly water and a little lemonade). Even so, I totally applaude the lesson that you taught your children. Good for you.
You must live in the wild wild west because those big fountains don't exist in New England!
This is how well my mom taught us not to steal. When I was about 8 or 9, we were on vacation in kalispell and we made a stop at the dollar store to spend our hard earned dollars on frivolities (that would probably end up in the garbage a week later). I had tried on this skeleton necklace that glowed in the dark (I know, so cool right?). Well, when we were halfway back to the car and I realized that I had forgotten to take the necklace off, i literally started to cry! I felt horrible! My mama told me to just go take it back and tell them it was a mistake and they would be fine. But I was so petrified that I would be arrested or something, that I just snuck in around the front corner of the store, left it on a little shelf full of pogs, and ran back out, all the while with butterflies in my stomach, sure I would feel the icy grip of some police officer any moment! Happy to say I've never stolen anything since =)
I think my son was 6 at the time he stole one of Grandma's DIAMOND rings. We had just got back from the hour drive and lo and behold " Mommy look what I found" My mom was very undertanding and amused when I made him call her and confess.
I think it was about the same time he had a fetish of cutting small holes in his shirts at school.
One of my girls once took a GC from Target, now granted it wasn't activated, but I was livid. My husband made her take it back and locate a manager to tell him she was sorry and that she would never take anything else in his store. She was probably between 6-8, and now she's nearly 16, and I don't think she has sticky fingers.
If she's quick at taking a bite, Peaches manages to steal a pear each time we go to the supermarket. I have to stay one step ahead - literally.
My four yr old. has really sticky fingers here around our house. We know that if something's missing, we can usually find it under his pillow! During Christmas time, he hid a present under his pillow after unwrapping it, and he had opened the package of hot chocolate on top! We found him with brown lips and decided to call Santa:) When he got on the phone (with actually his 12 yr.old cousin)he yelled, "I'm SORRY Santa!!". My older kids were all hiding their smiles. It's very rare that we find anything now-since Santa has spoken! He's hopefully a changed little boy.
We nicknamed Clayton sticky fingers for a while. He went through a stealing phase. Lotion from the store, various toys from friends' houses. Once I saw him playing with some frogs that I didn't recognize. He said my neighbor had given them to him. He seemed a little suspicious about them and I found out a few hours later that he swiped them from a friend's house. I think he is finally over his phase, thank goodness.
A few months back my son (6) but a tin of burts bee's lip balm in his pocket at Meijer (Its like Walmart). I noticed he had it before we left.
My kids prefer to do all of their "stealing" in the privacy of our own home. As in, raiding each other's piggy banks, my purse, the Christmas jar, and hunting for spare change.
THe only thing I would be tempted to steal is that fantastic thing on late night tv infomercials, the SNUGGIE. If you haven't heard of it, you should definitely google it. In fact, I think you should see if they would sponsor a giveaway on your site. It would be PERFECT.
Daddy works at a Grocery Store and so my kids think that they "own" the store. So whenever we go grocery shopping they run straight to the candy aisle (conveniently located right inside the front doors) and grab a sucker. How is this stealing?? The rip off the wrappers and bite off the pieces before I can grab the darn things. I am getting smarter but occasionally they beat me to the punch.
My son stole a wooden block from his preschool. When I took him back to apologize and return the block he fell apart. He is so tender I ended up crying too.
My son, aka Sick Faker, was arrested at Target for stealing video games at age 13. As I am evidently a horrible parent, it came to light that he had stolen over 100 of them over a period of about 6 months...and they only noticed it NEAR CHRISTMAS WHEN THERE WAS MORE SECURITY....
When I received the call...I was out to lunch. So I asked the officer...what will happen to him if I don't drop everything and run to Target and pick him up. The officer replied that he would be taken to Juvenile Hall. I said Okay that sounds good. May I come and pick him up tomorrow morning. I was told I was not allowed to do that (so much for making him suffer...) I showed up at Juvenile Hall at about 9:57pm, he had been there since about 11:00 am. Lots of time to think. Then the probation officer recommended 20 hours community service. TWENTY???? I said OH NO, I do not THINK SO. I said how about 100. He said the most I can give is 40. So that's what the boy did...except evidently he was such a good worker they gave him double time for his time served and he actually only had to do 20. Which totally pissed me off.
Oh, my boys went for the chocolate. Apparently, I deprived them of sweets for long stretches at a time.
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these stories are awesome! my kids are young yet, but i'm sure we'll get there soon :-/
We stole a ball from the Disney store about a year ago. I didn't find it until all 4 were in their carseats and I was cleaning out from under the double stroller. We had the talk and then a little prayer to say sorry and my dd prayed that mommy would take it back {nice}. So, 60 seconds round trip I darted though Des Book, gave someone a ball, said sorry, and got back to the van full of buckled babies.
He watched over them because we Chose The Right, right?
So at the time you posted this, I was really having to come up with the best story of my four kids. Then we went to McD's yesterday.
And guess what my 14yo did. Yep, he finished his milkshake and then filled his cup w/soda.
I made him go up to the counter to pay for it (he was mortified) and then that little teeny-bopper at the counter just stared at him like he had 3 heads. Then she said, "Oh, that's ok. You don't have to pay for that..."
Great. Thanks for the help w/the life lesson, little teeny-bopper girl.
My oldest daughter has stolen a few times. The first time she snuck a dog toy under her shirt out of Pet Smart. (we don't have a dog) We turned right back around and I made her give it to the cashier and apologize. She was 3.
The second time, she stole some legos from her preschool and brought them home in her backpack. I made her take them back the next day and apologize to her teacher. She was 4.
The third time, she brought home a huge stack of blank paper that she took from her kindergarten class. I don't understand the child. We have packages of printer paper here at home at her disposal. But she wanted this paper because it was a "more interesting size." It was just cut in half! I made her take it back to her teacher.
We talk about why stealing is wrong over and over. I don't get it.
When my now 19-year-old daughter was about 4, we were in Blockbuster, and as I was in line to pay, she walked up to me with an opened box of Milk Duds. She told me she found the box already opened. Ha! I gave the candy to the kid behind the counter, paid for it, then dumped the whole box out into the store's trash can. I told her to NEVER do that again.
Well, she tried it again the next trip to Blockbuster. Again, I paid, and again poured the candy into the trash. I told her she was stealing from ME, taking my money to pay for the candy. That was the last time she stole (except for "borrowing" clothes from me~does that count?)
The key is to always go through with your threats. If you say you're going to toss the candy - toss the candy! She learned, pretty quickly, that I really would follow through ... that I MEAN what I SAY.
BTW, she is now a delightful young adult.
My daughter's biggest theft was taking craft ribbon from Robert's craft stores. She's also taking things from the grocery store. She can be a professional smuggler. I frisk her when leaving any store and yet still find stolen goods later at home. She was 4 and 5 at the height of it.
Once when I was working as a cashier at Ross Dress for Less, a mom dragged her 7-year-old son up to me, elbowed in the ribs, and said, "my son has something to tell you."
"I took this." He handed me some small plastic part of a toy.
"Oh, hey, thanks." I said, and turned to keep organizing; toys are destroyed every day at Ross. "Don't you have anything else to say?" The mom eyed me.
"Umm"
"About not stealing?" Her eyebrows were raised to her hairline in a sort of you're-an-adult-too-right look.
"Oh. Yeah. That's a really bad idea. You should definitely never steal from here again. Or at all." "Do you hear that, Andy? Stealing is against the law."
What? Please teach my son a lesson random Ross-girl? Awkward.
My husband just caught our 9-year-old with Pokemon cards under his shirt on Saturday (while shopping for my Mother's Day gift. Gee, that really made my day) and I thought, "I wonder how The Meanest mom would handle it?"
I just had to do a search and see if you had any fun examples. It was bad enough when our 6-year-old took candy from Staples and I had to take all three boys back in the traffic/heat while pregnant. But 9??? He definitely knows better. I was ticked and he's lucky his dad caught him and not me. His dad handled it a lot nicer than I would have.
My mom actually did a good job of teaching us not to steal from the store, but my brothers and I were in a conspiracy to get a six-pack of Klondike bars any time we were at the grocery because our mom wouldn't get them every time we wanted them (which was every trip). One of us would sneak them out of the freezer and we would pass them back and forth to each other, hiding them under coats and behind backs while the others kept Mom distracted. Then we would hide them under the groceries on the belt at the checkout, and Mom didn't know she had bought them until all four of us had taken bites out of them in the car. Oooh, she got mad, but we made sure to leave one for her and one for Dad. She got better about catching us after a while, and I remember random pat downs in the middle of the store. My brothers and I still won sometimes, though.
What I hate is when you are running late, and when you get to the car, you realize you have a pack of gum in your hands that you forgot to put down. And you have to run back in and buy it and end up being LATE over gum.
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