I think son stole from store

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just ask. Maybe two packages were stuck together. Maybe he put some in the cart by mistake. I wouldn't assume the worst. But if he admits to taking them, just have him take it back and apologize. That's punishment enough, IMO, for a first offense.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just ask. Maybe two packages were stuck together. Maybe he put some in the cart by mistake. I wouldn't assume the worst. But if he admits to taking them, just have him take it back and apologize. That's punishment enough, IMO, for a first offense.

I agree about asking before punishing, but don't fall for stupid excuses - putting them in the cart by "mistake"? Seriously? Did they magically fly there? Plus, OP said she only saw one pair on the belt, which means the second one had to come out of the store some other way. I would ask for his version and take him back to the store to apologize. I think taking away the Christmas presents would be too much and would make him bitter instead of repentant, so I would probably avoid that - after all, you wouldn't be thinking about it if it'd happened in June instead of December. I could see taking away the special activity and the toys he picked out, depending on his attitude.

Yes, seriously. Maybe he threw them in when he first saw them. Then had to go back to the toy aisle for more and got them again, forgetting about the first pair. Maybe he miscounted gifts for the other kids. You never know.

I don't get people who think the worst of their kids right off the bat. Must not be very ethical themselves.

[Anonymous]

You definitely need to ask him about it. We had one time when I got my kid something and I had the item in hand, he doesn't see it, and put another in the cart. I pay for the one in hand but don't pay for the one in the bottom of the cart and then we end up with two. I found it when unloading the cart at the car and was able to walk back in and return the item at the customer service desk. I said this was in our cart, but we didn't pay for it and didn't want to buy it and handed it back. They took it without question.

If you determine that he stole it, I would keep everything else the same, but I would return the extra pair, but dock his allowance for the cost of the second pair. So the item is returned to the store, he doesn't get the item but he still pays for the item. But he gets his other Christmas gifts, etc. I think this comes closer to what real life penalties are. Think of the cost of the item as a fine. And he's on house probation with much more serious penalties should he do anything else back in the next month or so.

[Anonymous]

I just think it's funny that you bought your son toy hand cuffs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think it's funny that you bought your son toy hand cuffs!

I just think you are weird.

[Anonymous]

Update OP???

[Anonymous]

I, too, thought the item sounded like a strange toy but then again, I don't have children who play cops and robbers. (that's what it's for, right?)

[Anonymous]

I think if he stole them, he wouldn't put them under the tree.