No phones because in the end you’re just rewarding them for what they did. Like wow I stole something but mom and dad still bought me a phone. Make sure they know they lost a phone d might seem harsh to you but handle it NOW send a clear message or it will not be learned. They ever do something like that again the law will not worry about harshness. Chores are nothing kind of an easy way out. I knew when I was a kid sometimes I’d think no big deal I’ll just get grounded lol then do wrong anyway.
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Kids Wil be kids if they don’t make mistakes the6 will never learn. I think what you decided is enough. My child stole candy last Christmas from a place we frequent. I was infuriated but took her back inside to the manager myself. You’re very lucky they didn’t get you for theft. You did the right thing mom. Don’t worry I think this will make them learn.
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You already punished them. You need to punish yourself for not staying with your kids in the store. Idc if it was closet sized you can’t trust anyone these days what if someone grabbed them and you didn’t notice?
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7 and 10 years old and you bought them phones. No wonder you are struggling to provide for Christmas. They are Too young for phones. They proved that by #1 opening and playing with a product they weren’t buying. #2 disrespecting an adult #3 disobeying an adult. VERY important life lesson here on 3 issues in one instance.The phones are returned. End of story.
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They just opened a pack of slime for Christ’s sake 
Tell them opening stuff in a store isn’t okay and get over it 
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The punishment you’ve given is enough. I wouldn’t have let them wander a store alone. My step daughter is 9 and I don’t let her out of my sight when we’re in a store
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You want to add more on top of what’s already been decided? I think what’s been dealt is enough. I don’t think they pulled this stunt in spite of being provided Christmas. They should have been supervised instead of given the freedom of wandering off during the excitement of being in the store. Maybe the 10 year old should know better but maybe a 7 year old doesn’t.
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Honestly, if this is their first “offense”, I think the punishment is good. Even adults get a slap on the wrist their first offense. I’m sorry you guys are going thru this. 
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They are kids and kids do things because… Well they are kids. Wrong or not.
U must be fun at parties enter sarcasm here… they are kids… it was slime… u act like they held the store up at gunpoint or something… 
this may unpopular but IDGAS… MAYBE DON’T LET YOUR KIDS RUN AROUND A STORE ALONE & THEN PUNISH THEM FOR YOUR LACK OF PARENTING & THEIR BEING KIDS 
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They’re kids. You sound like a Grinch.
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While youre making them write an apology letter to the store. You sit down at the table with them and write an apology letter to your children for leaving them unintended at the store! So much more could have went wrong!!
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Lol it’s not your fault. A childs brain still developing focuses only on pleasure, they learn more as they grow about principles and integrity. As long as they understand what they did was wrong then that’s enough. Your consequences already given is enough too, kids get excited about things too. I see adults opening packages all the time to see what they actually look like and I think a lot of ppl on here have done it as well. Enjoy your Christmas, Christmas is just a naturally hectic time. Don’t ruin theirs.
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Should have been watching them.
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I mean, did you not punish them by taking away their devices? Maybe show them where people end up when they do things they’re not supposed to
Phones for a 10 and 7 year old:…mmmmm bold choice
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Additional chores and confiscated devices sounds like a good punishment. Also a light talk about money maybe, children don’t understand the hardships parents deal with at Christmas, or any other time of the year. Which is good, they shouldn’t have to deal with that stress, but a talk about the value of things may be helpful.
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I didn’t even read this whole post, you lost me when you said you lost sight of your young children in a store when kidnapping and human trafficking are running ramped these days. I’d just explain to them why you can’t open and use products before they’re bought and keep an eye on your kids better. That’s the parents fault for not watching your small children closer in a public place where anything could happen. You should just be happy that something worse didn’t happen.
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Sounds like a great punishment minus the fact you weren’t watching them. So you can’t fully give them a consequence. However I think your first mistake is giving them a phone. I’d say minimum age 13 for a phone. When there middle school and maybe at friends more and not with you.
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most times, this is just a start-they had fun doing that and will probably do it again-make them take their allowance and pay for it and tell them next step is jail-I don’t think they realized what they were doing-just having fun
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They’re punishment is enough as is. I think the two of you as parents need to think about your own punishments because you did let your children go and do as they please during the time that this happened.
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I am not understanding the severity of this. Honestly the punishment already given is more than enough. I pick my battles and this wouldn’t be one of them. Hope that doesnt come off rude. I guess I am saying this just doesnt mark serious in my book. Learning tool yes
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Lmao who let’s small children wander alone in a store? Ever hear of sex trafficking? Youre lucky they just opened some cheap bullshit n didnt get kidnapped. This is all your fault. Not theirs. Do better.
Honestly, I think what you did is enough. They are kids, and while they’re old enough to know better, their frontal lobes (front part of their brain responsible for rational thinking and impulse) isnt fully developed. We expect our kids to be able to control themselves, but ultimately they dont. It is embarrassing and disappointing but at the end of the day, it’s not your fault, but it also isnt such a severe act that they need a huge punishment. Now if they lied to you, stole it out of the store, etc… then yes, punish them. But let them sweat it out with no electronics until christmas and then sit them down and explain the phones are gifts, but they are on probation and one more stunt like at the store and they are gone.
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I think what you’ve done is fine, provided they’ve learned their lesson. Kids do dumb stuff. If your husband is adamant abt the gifts, they get 1 and the rest get put up for birthdays.
I wouldn’t let them walk around a store for a while.
Together, you both should discuss with them why they’re in trouble. Talk to them abt consequences bc in todays world, they could’ve called the cops. One day mom and dad can’t save them by simply paying.
May seem drastic, but when my daughter was 2, she stole a sucker… I marched her butt right back in there and right in front of a Detective I told her, “When you steal, you can go to jail. No mommy, daddy, or brother.” Kinda drastic but she’s never touched another thing and she’s almost 10.
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Punishment is a given… but don’t let it hamper the holidays. We all mess up, this is a teaching opportunity
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You really wanna take all their gifts back and ruin their Christmas because they opened a couple packages of cheap slime? I understand a small punishment and speaking to them about what theft means. But to ruin their holiday for being kids? Little harsh don’t you think? I mean christ…it was SLIME dude
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The punishment should be at the parents for leaving the children unattended when kids get taken daily.
So if anyone should be punished it should be the parents.
I think the kids learned their lesson.
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What’s your punishment for not watching your kids? Paying for the slime lol.
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Depending on level of maturity and responsibility 10 is not to young for a phone. Especially for children who are not always with their parents due to sports or any other extracurricular activities. If my 10 year old is going to be away from me for an extended. Of time I need for her to be able to contact me. I have apps that monitors her use and I can cut the data off anytime I want to when I feel like shes spent enough time on it. School shootings etc. I need her to be able to contact me ASAP
Almost every kid has done this or similar at one point in their lives. They made a mistake and they will make more mistakes along the way before they’re adults. It’s your job as parents to guide them to do the right thing, not make their lives miserable for being human and being a kid. Help them see what they could have done better. It sounds like with the punishment you’ve already given them they know they were wrong. Not to be harsh but I didn’t let my kids out of my sight in the store at that age. Besides the fact that you can’t trust anyone these days, you also need to be nearby in situations like that so you can monitor their behavior especially, when they have a friend along.
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I honestly wonder who would be laughing at this. Because if this was my child, I’d feel the same as you. I don’t really have any advice I’m sorry, but all I can say is whatever punishment you do dish out, stick to it. X
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Shit happens it’s Christmas…
In the grand scheme of things this is a minor thing for children. I would of made them do chores for money (the amount of the slime) and pay it themselves to you… an opportunity to teach them about bills and paying out here.
So who exactly will set the punishment for the adults that let two young children run off in a store by themselves ? My oldest is 9 and middle is 7 and unless I can see them at all times, they don’t move. I think yall are being ridiculous. My daughter stole candy once when she was younger. Her punishment- I talked to her and made her take it back and apologize. She never did it again. Parents need to be held accountable also because we set the path for them.
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First off you just don’t let your kids roam a store . Second they should already be doing chores and third no phones period. Fourth take all electronics away.
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You’re in for more issues if you got phones for 10 and 7 year olds. They obviously aren’t as mature as you think.
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Uh. Geesh I wouldn’t want you for parents
They’re kids. Use this as a teaching moment. Taking things away for an unspecified time isn’t helpful. It needs to have a time frame. Doing chores to “pay back” what was spent imo is better to teach kids at their age.
Honestly let your husband lead on this one. He has the backbone in this situation and it needs to be taken serious.
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You should always keep track of your kids in the store and be watching them. Why punish them for your mistake
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I think they’ve been more than punished and embarrassed enough for opening two things of slime in a discount store Taking away things arbitrarily or looking for a severe punishment well after the fact won’t serve a purpose.
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You did the right thing. But for now on i wouldn’t let them wonder since they’re not responsible enough, to me that’s way too young. All i have to say to my 4 year old at home when he gets in trouble is, “I’m calling the cops!” Works every single time:joy:
You’ve already punished them by taking their devices and extra chores. That’s enough at their ages. I would probably take them back to the store and have them apologize.
You want to punish your child for your own inability at the time to watch them?
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I believe taking their devices and adding additional chores is punishment enough because in my opinion, this falls on you guys for letting them loose in a store to go look at toys. Not to mention extremely dangerous!! No matter how small the place is, do not take your eyes off of them! Not even for a second! Take this as a lesson learned for y’all and be grateful that the worst thing that happened was they opened some toys and y’all had to pay for it! What they did was wrong and I’d definitely brush up on teaching them about things that do not belong to them. They didn’t steal anything, they just opened some slime which is wrong but y’all let your 10 and 7 year old loose in a store with toys so it’s not that shocking. I’m not judging btw I just hope y’all realize how dangerous it is to not have eyes on your children in a public place.
To me one of the bigger things is the disrespect they showed to the store employee when they were asked to stop! Also, people saying they shouldn’t be punished because the parents weren’t watching…haven’t you people heard of integrity? Doing the right thing when no one is watching!!! Yes, the parents should have been keeping a closer eye but they can’t always be around and the children should still have a consequence for the disrespect and “stealing”! I feel they have gotten a good punishment by having to pay for it and having items taken away! Hopefully a talk about treating others and things that don’t belong to them with respect, EVEN when mom and dad aren’t around happens too!
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I say what you’ve done is enough punishment.
At 10 and 7 they should already know these rules. Call me Grinch but I’d ruin Christmas. Sounds like those girls need a reality check.
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Let it go. Have some sincere face to face and heart to heart talks with your kids about how you disapprove of that behaviour. Explain how disappointed you are That they took something that wasn’t theirs to play with. Ask them to come to you next time they are not sure about a decision and you help guide them, because that’s what your role as a parent is. If you set the stage for this now when they are young, they will start coming to you more ad more
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I would make them do extra chores other than what they already do, wash windows etc ,wash cars, until they have paid for what they opened.
I think y’all should just be grateful your kids weren’t kidnapped. I took my 8 yo to the dollar store yesterday and he wasn’t allowed more than arms reach away from me the whole time.
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Make them write a letter of apology to store manager. Write them a letter of apology for not providing them with the letter of care that THEY NEEDED to keep them from stealing, or vandalizing, or whatever the actual accusation was. Then hold each one’s hand every time you’re in a store from now until spring. If you can’t hold them both, make the 7 stay at home with someone who won’t pet her and take the 10 yo. She could have stopped her sister or notified you. Don’t let ppl sidetrack you with human trafficking and blame! The issue here is kids stealing, not mitigating their behavior because the world is bad. If 10 and 7 can’t look at stuff without touching, you have a problem much closer to home than human trafficking.
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When my daughter stole from a store, her punishment was we couldn’t trust her to go into a store. It was a bit inconvenient for hubby and I but she was devastated by our lack of trust.
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They need to be taught to be responsible. I think you’re doing fine . It’s not the opening
of the slime that’s the issues, it’s being told by an adult to stop and continuing to do so. Teaching them to pay back what you had to spend is a good idea and just keeping them close since they aren’t ready to be permitted to roam in a store just yet. All 3 of my kids were different ages when they reached the time they were mature enough. They will get there.
They are 9 and 7 the punishment is enough. I have my nieces a few days a week and they are the same age. 9 and 7 and they are to young to go alone in a toy isle. I know they would have done alot worse… You can blame the kids all you want but you need to take some of the blame yourself on this one. For them to have opened and been seen and for a manager to have been involved means they were there for a while before you got them.
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Personally i think 7 and 10 is a little too young for phones.
But i would
Let them keep the gifts…but don’t let them use them until they earn your trust back.
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Get over it. They’re kids.
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Am I the only one that’s going to say your 10 and 7 year old have phones? What in the actual … however I think the punishment you’ve given them will suffice, keep reminding them what they’ve done is wrong and how in the future what can happen if they do those things, I would also make them write an apology letter and deliver it to the store employee!
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When we caugjt our daughter shoplifing at around 12 she was put on military lockdown yes sir no maam and had to write apologize letters in at least 50 words this is the age to sqush this she hated it then but now at 18 she is very appericate of what we did
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I think y’all did enough honestly. YALL have to take responsibility for what happened also…and it seems like both of y’all are taking your frustrations from knowing y’all are wrong, out on them 
Don’t take their Christmas away…you talked to them, they know y’all are disappointed and that alone is a lot honestly. Now…get your heads up and move on 
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Watch your kids? 10 and 7 is plenty old enough to know better! Honestly, I’d do what you did as well as add that they’d not be going to the store with me for a while; if they have to, they’d be holding on to the cart, not allowed to go anywhere alone. They’ll have to earn that trust back. Yes, parents own a bit of responsibility but kids will do stupid shit no matter how well you teach them. You’re doing fine mama! Just keep instilling things into them about right and wrong.
Wow! Both getting phones! That is what should be returned!
Yes they were wrong for opening a tube of Slime, and you punished them already, BUT WHERE WERE YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND?? Doesnt matter how small a store is YOU NEVER LET A SMALL CHILD WONDER OFF ALONE. Lord for bid if they were abducted, I’d never be able to live with myself, knowing I was the reason they were taken… Plus it’s not There fault you and your husband struggled to provide a Christmas, don’t take it out on them. Smaller less expensive gifts and Phones at 10&7 not a smart decision at all.
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Be better parents maybe 
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You have done enough punishment but they are too young for phones. Take them back They were too young before the slime issue. I’m hoping they got additional items for Christmas I would have said take back the phones before the store issue.
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7 and 10 are to young for phones anyways. They need toys obviously like slime
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Thought this was suppose to be a page for giving advice, not bashing other parents. Wow.
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It sounds like you have a good punishment with no electronics and extra chores until it’s “paid off”. I’d just stick with that
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they made a mistake, they’ll learn from it I’m sure. it’s a teaching opportunity.
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I’m sorry but one, you should have been watching your kids an two, my 8-almost 9 year old- would never have a phone! He isn’t even allowed to have internet/Xbox live on his xbox!! I say take the phones back!
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Honestly let them open the phone and then take them till they earn your trust back. There is so sence in people shaming the mom for letting her kids walk around the store these mom groups are rediculuous for shaming other moms. Hope you have a merry christmas
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I think you did a awesome job.
Just, pay closer attention in the future hun ok? I understand that you thought they had the maturity level to handle this, but hun, what if this wasnt the worst outcome of that? You did a good job. Don’t take Christmas away from them or anything that you extreme. Enjoy the holidays and let this all be a lesson to you and the kiddos.
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My daughter used to do this when she was little, thinking that if she opened it she’d get to have it since I would have to pay for it. She’d ask for something, I’d tell her no then she’d rip it open right in front of me. So I would let her know that I wasn’t happy with what she did, I’d pay for whatever she opened and if she hadn’t touched what was inside I’d ask the clerk if they’d like a treat because my daughter felt she could open it then keep it (cause she always did it at the convenience store). If the clerk didn’t want it I’d make her throw it in the garbage and then either lose her TV time or whatever special treat or thing she had gotten that day. It didn’t take long before she stopped doing it.
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You have already punished them Appropriately. Now move forward! Taking away their Christmas gifts is extreme and if this was done in July wouldn’t have even thought about doing that. They are kids. They do things like this sometimes. You are correct it is your job to teach them not to scar them because of 1 mistake they made at 10 and 7 when YOUR judgment was off about letting them wander a store alone. Just move forward now.
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I thought taking away devices and chores was the punishment? Taking away Christmas gifts from a 7 and 10 year old is extreme
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A 7 and 10 year old knows better. Kudos to you for actually paying for and punishing them. They need to know and I agree that would be embarrassing. I think no devices and chores is a good punishment.
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Have the cost of one slime each come out of allowances. Have the equivalent amount come out of allowance to donate to less fortunate kids. Let them enjoy their Christmas, phones, keep better watch until they’re more mature and consider it a life lesson for all involved.
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I’m pretty sure you guys did what you were sapose to. Punishment is made to learn a lesson not be a life sentence. Let this be a lesson to you guys to that you always have to have young children in eyes view especially when they are around toys.
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Match the toys to their mentalities…not to the “peer” issues…
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Um well… I bet you learned your lesson about leaving them unsupervised in a store!! They’re kids. Their devices were confiscated so you punished them already. More punishments gets to a point that they won’t understand why. Is you really want them to learn from what they chose to do ask the ppl at the store if they could clean something there. And have them write an apology letter.
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It sounds like your great parents and chose appropriate punishments. I would probably add them making a Christmas card to apologize to the employees and have them deliver it. All kids make bad choices; it’s our job and parents is how they learn froM it and be respectful. Merry Christmas 
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Dude. Thats punishment enough. Dont ya think? Keep up the harshness and it’ll backfire. And it WILL backfire. If they’re phones were taken away and they’ve been given extra chores what else are you expecting? Them to go work at the store until its paid off?
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For goodness sake settle down.
Both calm down before dishing out your death sentence.
Over the bloody top
Do you go this far out of your way when they do something good. ???
Poor kids
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What is the cost of two containers of slime in a discount store (I’m picturing like dollar general)? $2? $4? So they’re working off the cost…are they vacuuming the house once? Taking the trash out for a week? Holy hell , you’re acting like they robbed a bank. Two young kids were unsupervised and found something to do. Is it wrong? Absolutely! It sounds like taking their electronics is enough of a punishment. I would honestly be more upset that they didn’t stop playing with it and put it back immediately when asked by the staff to do so since that is a lack of respect. Have a discussion with your kids about right and wrong. I do feel like 10 and 7 is way too young for phones anyway, but if you already bought that for them for Christmas I wouldn’t return Christmas gifts over this. My son is 12 and still doesn’t have a phone. I think you need to re-evaluate your entire parenting model.
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Take the most expensive thing away and as to chores they be sitting laundry, taking trash out, feeding animals if you have any, cleaning bathroom, mopping, sweeping, washing the car, cleaning the inside of car etc w/o allowance.
Plus why does the 7 year old have a phone? My daughter is 6 and im just now getting her a leapfrog tablet to help with her education. And the 10 year old? Idk man… just learn when enough is enough and to not be so damn struct. I know parents think thats a good thing but it isn’t. I’ve seen time and time again it backfires on them and no bonding relationship is ever formed between child and kid. At least hardly ever. The confiscation and extra chores should do it. Tell your husband to learn to calm down too.
To be honest, you left young kids, unsupervised in a store, to their own devices. If anything, you should apologize to your kids for not being there to provide the appropriate guidance and feedback. If it were me, I would validate how they were feeling in the moment (excited, could not wait to open it) and provide them with information about how this is not societally acceptable. The natural consequences of the situation (the store clerk catching them and holding them) is punishment enough. Have a one to one conversation with them about how they felt and how they would approach the situation moving forward. I’m an adult and sometimes open things in stores (I’m hungry, etc ) 
so if I’m modelling that behaviour I can expect that from my child.
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10, 15, 20 years from now this will be a story you will tell with a smile.
That’s a kid thing to do. They proved that they cant be trusted with the freedom, so, from here on out, they need to be with you. I wouldnt take away the gifts, but I would absolutely make them do chores. I would also make them research and put together an essay (or paragraph for the 7 year old) about why theft is wrong and consequences of it.
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Take the phones back. Kids that young have no business with one. Too many perve out there
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They’ve been punished enough already
Move on
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And where in this post did you take accountability for leaving your children unattended?! Your children should have known better, but you and your husband should have had your children right by your side. I don’t care how small you claim the discount store is. You yourself stated at one point due to your excitement with shopping you lost sight of them and has to go searching for them. Be the example and take responsibility where you both failed as parents. Let them know, as you did, what they did was unacceptable, but also let them know that you should have been more responsible in watching them. They’re 7 and 10, not 15 and 17. And this is why kids go missing and you see parents crying all in the camera. Watch your damn kids!
I think youve done enough as far as chores and confiscating their things but i am quite surprised that the seven year old is getting a phone…
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I have a different opinion than most. I honestly think this is a lesson learned for you two as parents to pay attention to your children in the store. You should be glad it was only a couple containers of slime. They are after all, 7 and 10 years old. YOU are responsible as parents to make sure they aren’t damaging stuff in any place. Sounds like a teachable moment to you all. As for the phones, I don’t believe in kids having one until they are either driving or have a job, but that’s your call. I got mine at 16 and had to pay for my own bill.
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She didn’t ask if they were old enough to wander or old enough to have phones. The 10 year old knew what she was doing was wrong, if not then there’s the parenting flaw. The 7 year old probably just went along with it. As for punishment, I think what you’ve already done is enough considering their age. Let them have Christmas, if you go over board with punishment that can make things worse in the long run. Pick your battles or your future punishments for really big mistakes will have to outdo what you’ve already done and will reach a point of ridiculousness.
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When I was younger I was allowed to look about the aisles and wouldn’t of ever pulled this stunt especially at 10 years old where I knew right from wrong. So it isnt bad on the parent for letting them look around.
I think you did what you can and if they haven’t learned they’ll have to face more consequences.
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What a thing, why have cell phones for a 7 year old and 10 yr. old ? Children should not be allowed to strole through or around in a store regardless of the size of the store!
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Take their phones back 100%!!!
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The thing I’m going to say is a 10 year old and 7 year old shouldn’t even have a phone. End of story.
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I feel like you made their punishment putting back stocking stuffers, and taking their electronics. If you want them to work off the $ you spent doing chores, ok, but sending gifts back? Honestly if that’s the worst thing they’ve done this season. My kid’s a fucking nightmare and is held to the same standards as yours, and she would not only have been impulsive enough, under the right circumstances, to make the same dumb mistake, but being told her stocking stuffers were going back and getting her electronics taken, she would have thrown a tantrum bad enough to drive us straight off the road and kill us all. I’m not kidding. She’s aimed for the seat before and kicked my husband in the head during a tantrum while driving. He didn’t handle it well and I had to step in between them. Let those children live with their misdeed. And move on.