You ask yourself harshly, “What the f**k did I do for my kid to think its ok to steal? “

After erupting with anger, investigate the why? right away and make adjustments.  Raising kids is mostly trial and error and the process teaches as much about their needs as it does about your own as a parent.  Grow with them.

  Children steal for many reasons. 

For Attention: Kids thrive with positively attentive parents. If there is no praise for good behavior, some will settle for the opposite. Sometimes tough love can feel better than not feeling loved at all.  And while it seems asinine to think your kid would ever not feel loved, it’s more common than you think.  Over petty shit mostly; Like you helped a struggling sibling instead or worked extra hours and couldn’t make enough time for them.

Being Denied: Being told NO can piss a kid off just as much as an adult.   When an adult is told they can’t have something, they can still figure out how to get it if they really want it.  Kids don’t always have the opportunities to earn things they want, so they take them because they don’t see any other options. Learning to live without is hard for everyone.

To Challenge: Kids need consistent stern discipline. If they expect there will be no consequences to disrespectful behavior due to past lack of follow through, they wont have the voice in their head telling them not to.  Recognize and handle their red flags everytime!! Starting young as shit!! Especially when it’s uncomfortable.

Out of Jealousy:  Some kids get the newest, best things all the time. It can make others feel inadequate.  They don’t just want what they have.. They don’t want them to have it either. It can stem from low self esteem but this type of cynical behavior needs to ne nipped in the bud ASAP.

Ways to Help

Emotional Support: Make sure your kid knows that your own their side and how much you love them. You gave them life with the intention of loving and guiding them forever to be good people. Tell them! Make it obvious that they are important to you and walk alittle closer by their side for awhile. Help them understand the confusing emotions that lead them to do something so disrespectful.

Counseling: Sometimes it’s hard to get your kid to open up to you. Your not alone. It’s frustrating to think you can’t help them when you know they need you. Luckily there are people trained for times just like this. Mental health professionals know how to help kids figure out their feelings and how to better respond to situations. Pay attention to any red flags that you can share with the counselor to really help them get to the root of the problem. They can dissect even small bits of helpful info.

Discipline: Regardless of why it happened, it shouldn’t happen again. The punishment should fit the crime. Be firm and strict. Read them your local laws regarding theft so they are aware that not only is it disrespectful, it’s illegal.

Level with them: What if you were the victim in this crime? What if it was your item that was stolen by a friend? Would you trust them again? How would you feel about the person after they stole from you? Do you look at them differently now? If you dont want people to think of you in that way.. Do the right thing. Having integrity will always prove for a better outcome than being disrespectful. Always choose respect and treat people how you want to be treated.

Better to spend a week grounded now than a year behind bars later..