Real Life MMD: Should I tell on the little girl shoplifter?

alwaysonthego_2

When my DD was 2 she stole some just for men from Bodycare, shame it was the wrong colour (just joking!) I took it back mortified.

pineapple

Well I wouldn't be pointing out responsibility or anything like that. I would just say to the Mum that she should be aware the child took a chocolate bar.
If the Mum looks a bit fierce, I might say something in the shop in the hearing of the shopkeeper. Let's not forget that a minority of parents might actually condone this.
But if the Mum looks like she won't deck me one, I would collar her outside.
I think the ideal thing is to say something (loudly) to the child at the time. But not sure I would have the presence of mind to do this.

GreenTed

Just quickly, what I find really interesting is that we all evaluate this in the light of our own experiences, ie is 4 old enough to know the difference compared to our own children. It was very helpful that one lady pointed out she didn't realise that taking sticks from school was stealing at more than double this age. We all vary - mine is exceptionally well-behaved, because he likes rules, because he's of the way his Asperger's affects him, but another child on the autistic spectrum may not have grasped this and even at a much older age would be unlikely to understand 'that look'! How can we tell by a child's apparent age what's going on in their head and whether they understand the concept of stealing yet or not? We can't. Ooh yes I'd tell the mum too of course with a friendly understanding smile, unless I had to dash for a train....

aimee2525

You would have a moral responsibility to tell the Mum and let her deal with it. It is upsetting to read how many people have commented that they wouldn't say anything if the Mum looked 'scary'. Often the scariest looking people are actually the most harmless!
As a teacher, I have to contact parents to tell them about their offspring's misbehaviour on an almost daily basis and this is easy so long as you remember that:

a) Their child is their pride and joy, to be defended at all times
b) The parent is likely to be quite embarrassed
c) You are actually on the same side- all parents know right from wrong and where they don't enforce this with their kids it's usually because they either don't know how to deal with it or they want to avoid a confrontation

Taking that into consideration, if you are discrete in telling the parent and show that you are on their side e.g. "I thought you would like to know that she's just picked up a chocolate bar" and then use a bit of humour e.g. "cheeky little thing, thought she would get away with it. lol. Good job I was watching, eh" then you should be fine!:T

spursliz

I don't know that I'd call it shoplifting but yes, of course, you should tell her mother. It would be easy enough to make a joke of it, and make sure you do it before she leaves the shop.

reluctantworkingmum

A quiet word OUTSIDE the store just to say 'check small pockets' and most definitely NOT stop to make sure child is punished. Why should the mother be embarassed inside the store? Mother then has several options - go back inside store and make kid give it back - go home and talk to kiddy quietly about right and wrong - or do nothing. Her choice - her kid!
I do actually blame the store for deliberately targeting kids by putting sweets by checkouts -

ses99

I agree with folks, tell the Mum. I don't really see it as shoplifting, it's just kids doing what kids do. They just need to be told not to do it.

jlovatt_2

whosforachat wrote: »

I would leave her to it.

Well you are in for a WORLD of trouble when you have kids!

poet123

Can I ask a genuine question? I have noticed recently that these dilemma threads attract more new posters than normal threads...why is this? are they posted elsewhere and that then attracts new posters onto the site or is it co incidence?

As to the question, I would tell the mother but not in a judgemental way, just as one mother to another, the child is only young and there is no need to make a major dranma out of it.

meher

poet123 wrote: »

Can I ask a genuine question? I have noticed recently that these dilemma threads attract more new posters than normal threads...why is this?

it goes on the weekly email tips, presumably why there are newbie posts on these money moral dilemma and the polls discussion threads