Lying and Stealing to get food

[Harperhan]

I am coming to the end of my tether. My 12 year old DS is stealing and lying to me. He is stealing sweet things like chocolate and sweets all the time. He is allowed sweets etc in moderation, but is literally like a crack addict and needs more. He will lie and steal if there are sweet things to be had, sometimes complex and clever lies. He always confesses when pushed on the subject but then does it again the next week. He hasn’t had his phone for months as every time he is about to get it back he does something else. What can I do as at the moment I just keep losing the plot, as in my eyes lying and stealing is an awful thing to do.

[Reaa]

Don't buy anymore

[goose1964]

I feel for you, I had this with DS1 he's now morbidly obese and his flat is full of wrappers from crap and sugary drink bottles. He does have mental health issues so looking back I wonder if he had them then.

We ended up locking his favourite food under lock and key and never left money unattended but he would then steal items and sell them. If it was happening now I'd take him to the doctor and hopefully they'd be able to get him the help he needs.

[Harperhan]

Goose, this is my precise fear. I do buy sweet things because I also have 2 other sons who are extremely sporty and can eat anything. It would seem so unfair on them to keep the house bare of the odd treat.

I do worry that DS1 does have mental health issues as he is up and down like a yo yo, shows little interest in exercise and will always make the wrong food choices. He is an attention seeker as well.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Have you posted about this before OP? It’s almost an exact copy of a post that appeared in another section about a month ago.