It sounds like you have already given them the punishment. I will never understand why people think they need to jump on social media and get the opinions of total strangers about how to handle private family matters. Not to mention that your kids are probably already embarrassed and ashamed as it is so why subject them to more by posting it on the internet for everyone to see? Keep those things private and deal with them how you see fit in your home not on Facebook.
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I would of made them apologize for what they done to the store manager and add morechores but dont take there presents back they didnt steal they just open it and i think just punish them with chores and. Apologize can you and your husband for embarrassment and to the store manager
First they are too young to walking around in a store without a parent or adult! I donât care how small the store anyone could have taken them
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First of all why are you giving a 10 and 7 year old phones. I would have them write a apology letter to the store.
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First off: its NO ONEâS BUSINESS âwhy her kids have phonesâ. Period. Donât start meddling in those details and create unnecessary drama and inappropriate opinions on something that has NOTHING to do with what she is asking advice on. Yâall passing judgment on her kids having phones are just meddling and starting crap. Donât be a negative Nancy looking for something to go all nit picky on a fellow mom for. Stay classy.
Second, you and your hubby did great! The way you handled it is perfect. They didnt actually smuggle them out the door and steal them, just were making disrespectful choices. You definitely handled it great!
I second the whole punishment needs to fit the crime belief.
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YesâŚa quick punishment was needed and a talk about not opening items in stores. Taking gifts back is too extreme for opening slime. This is a learning lesson. Just reinforce it.
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I think I would take the phones back , being so intrested in slime, intrested enough to open it in the store without asking if they can have it tells me theyâre kids and arenât ready for a big responsibility like a phone.
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Were do u people live âŚthat you all feel these kids should get there butts kicked and no phones and no christmas presents geez they should of never been away from there parents in this sick world we live in âŚyou act like they robbed a bank im sure there sorry for what they didâŚ
I would just make then stay in till school starts for their xmas no playing with there friends. And maybe doing extra chorus till itâs paid off what you had to pay in the store. Donât take xmas away theyâll remember that foreverâ:persevere:
Too young for phones in my opinion. My 11 year old son doesnât even have one. Even though he asked Santa for one. You do what you think is best, not people on Facebook.
I have a 7 1/2 year old boy and a 5 1/2 year old boy. Let me begin by saying that you two are awesome parents. I commend you guys for making it out to be a severe situationâ because it is. I do think that yâall have done everything in the moment and I think itâs enough. I have learned with a stubborn, rebellious 7 year old who does things just for a reaction, that in the moment type punishments are the best. If you keep adding things, the punishment soon will not fit the crime. Keep the phones. Keep the chores and the reminders about stealing should be done too. If anything, yâall have matched the punishment to crime.
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Please ask them their side of things! Just to make sure of what happened and the why of it all !
I think What you are doing Sounds perfect. The punishment needs to for the crime, donât go to overboard. Also, for the next month or two make them stay right next to you at every store. I think taking their gifts back is a bit much. You could also have them write a letter of apology to the store manager.
I would make them give you the money back for what they opened and then have them give you the money for there friends gifts. Let them learn how much things cost
I think you did quite well. I made my 3 year old go to the manager and apologize for taking a candy and asked the manager for a broom, so he could sweep an aisle. I was a mean parent, but he never stole again.
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Iâd take the phones back, slime is much cheaper and they are too young for phones.
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Make them give their gifts to less fortunate kids since they already have a phone at these ages js i agree also with the husband
Big or small store children can get into misschief in the blink of an eye i agree with many on this never take away the childerns Christmas
Accidents happen and they are growing and learning⌠be firm but talking to them about whyâs and donâts is key
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I think the punishment you gave is fine. They didnât steal it, they played with it in store. They are little.
I donât agree with taking their gift back, but maybe a little humility is in order. Make them apologize in person at the store, if they already done that the rest of your punishment is more then enough. Imho
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Ground from all electronics etc make them help do chores in house like dishes etc and until they can prove they wont do it again make them stick with u
#1 reason why you donât leave them alone in the store
#2 community service of some sort
#3 how about discuss how other places in the world are. Paint a picture instead of condemning as kids nowadays have been taught to take what they want.
You are not giving your kids anything with an entitled attitude. And I have a 11 and 10yr so I know exactly what Iâm talking about. And no, they donât have phones.
Stealing is flat wrong but the discipline must be done in love
I feel by the punishment they have been disciplined enough if the store had 1p pkgs who knows the could have followed there cue have you talked to the kids calmly and ask for there side and I would not give the phones back, 10 nd 7 are very young to have phones this is just my opinion but thatâs whatâs a matter with our youth and as far as for wanting them to be responsible with there phones well remeber there a age that they are just learning so asking them to be responsible with the phone is a huge test. You have punished your kids well enough for there age itâs really up too you to teach them about responsibly and it does not sound like you have it sounds more your expecting them to know automatic kids are mini menâs. Sorry if this offends you but it my feelings I raised 5 boys and we had incidents like this in our home but we asked why they all had taking somthing there punishment was telling the manager why they did it, were grounded for 2 weeks and got there as chewed out
Yep, too young for phones. Who pays when they dual long distance???
I know how you feel, trust me I have 3girls and one boy, ages 3-13âŚso Iâve been through just about everything with them
Are you sure they did it? Or were they playing with already opened slime? It went from 10 boxes to 1.
yep they are kids⌠i wilm also put slm blame on the parents cuz they are kids and no matter howwell u teach them, they are courious⌠so take some of the responsablitiy in this matter of not being there to guide them in the right desision⌠.
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Im old school, id have popped their butts. And made them pay for it. My mom took me to the jail for attempting to steal a .25cent pack of gum. As well as an ass whopping. Not a POP but an ass whopping, thereâs a huge difference.
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I think you acted and gave a good punishment i wouldnât take away presents for it. You two are doing great.
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Honestly I am sorry I agree with your husband
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I think only you know what is best for your kids. God blessed you with them, so your wisdom prevails.
You have done enough. Every now and then remind them of the rules.
Yep take away electronis and do chores.
Phones and all electronics go back. No tv or privelages for a month
Replace cell phones with books
A good old fashioned ass whoopn is what they would have gotten plus all the above 
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Too young for phonesâŚtake them backâŚ
Donât take the presents back but let them open them and then since they r grounded make them earn the phones
When my little brother was 7 or 8, he âborrowedâ a bicycle with the ownerâs SISTERâS permission. When the owner went to go home, he reported it stolen, so the city cops got involved. Upon arriving at the babysitterâs here was the bike. The ingenious cop called both sets of parents who worked outside our little town. He asked if he could âarrest and put in jail the two thieves.â Both parents agreed, since the jail cells were empty.
It was around 5 PM when the parents got back into town and âbailed outâ the culprits. They were put in cuffs, put in the cop car and taken to the station. Needless to say, my brother NEVER borrowed anything without the actual owners consent. Yes, it was a bit extreme, but back then, it was acceptable to scare kids into good behavior. Lesson learned. There were no other prisoners at the jail and they were in separate cells.
UmâŚsounds like you got it covered! Good job! And let me just say, after reading tons of entitled parent stories, let me just say thank you from the entire world for NOT being an entitled parent! Good job mom! Youâre doing great! Some lessons are just embarrassing, but still necessary.
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Besides take them out back and string em upâŚLOL 
. I think that you have the punishment part covered.
I want to clarify that they didn"t steal they damaged merchandise which could have led to theft. My concern with the kids is their blantant disrespect and refusal to listen to the store clerk.
If you feel that you havenât done enough. You can have them write letters of apologies to the store and clerk. If they receive an allowance, you can take it away for 2 months.
Both you and your husband should be concerned, and I mean really concerned with the behavior that the kids displayed in the store. They seem to have been very comfortable being disobedient and it may be that they are misbehaving this way at home. Do they listen to you at home? If not, you and your husband need to make some serious changes.
Iâd have whooped their asses. They both lied about how many packages they opened and was disrespectful to an adult who told them to stop, but they kept on doing it. Ass whoopinâ time.
What does it say when you have to take to Facebook to ask how to discipline your own children?
A sign of the times I guess?
They have been punished enough
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