What discipline for ds9 stealing?

[BloodyCats]

I am so sick and tired of him taking our things, it’s been going on for years now and I’ve had enough. He is so sneaky and is constantly taking any treat we have in the house.
I have resorted to getting a tool box with a padlock to store things like biscuits, sugar, anything that is vaguely a treat etc.
I took both ds9 and ds5 to see Santa the other day and they were both given a present from him that was obviously a selection box. My guard was down as I’ve been feeling ill so I forgot to store the boxes away from him.
I’ve just cleaned his room and found he has taken both boxes for himself and eaten the lot! Just last week he found where I had hidden a tub of celebrations and he ate all of them too.

I’m so fucking sick of having to lock things away! How would you punish him for this?
I was considering giving his advent calendar to his brother seeing as he has taken his sweets.

Yes op, I have the same issue and it's also really getting me down. Been like this for years, it's as though he hasn't got an off button, he is entirely impulsive/compulsive but in every other area of his life, he is cautious, thoughtful and considered.

Last night he ate 7 if those biggish fancy cookies of. A packet of 8....so none left. I took his crisps off him, I'd bought them for a treat at a school trip and I ate the lot in front of him. He didn't even care.

My heart sinks because I was very compulsive with food at the same age and even now struggle not to demolish any treat, so I do understand him. Everybody says not to buy in treats but that's kind of unfair on younger son and husband both if whom have a disciplined attitude to food.

He is 9 too btw.

He has in the past snuck down and polished off a quality street tin at 5am. He is obsessed.

And its not just food. He has a Switch, he is v sneaky getting hold of that. I think he has a classic addictive personality. And you know, at 9 they back chat and ignore you as well, so I do feel as though I'm losing control of him in significant areas.

stop buying these tins of chocolate, if he's guzzling them all he's going to get huge with no teeth left.

remove his treats - tech, toys. Perhaps instigate some kind of reward for 'going straight'.

this must be awful - I hope you can get some help because as he gets bigger and keeps doing it everyone is going to hate him.

Can you first take him to the Dr to see if there is an underlying medical issue? It’s a lot of sugar.

Also is he getting enough to eat during the day? Has he said why he is doing this?

I would make him buy a replacement selection box for his brother from his pocket money, I think it is almost two separate 'crimes' if you like - one being greedy and two taking something that belongs to someone else.

Is it just sweet treats, or does he take toys/ money etc?
Sugar is quite addictive and some people find it very hard to control themselves around it. Locking it away as you are doing is probably the only way you can effectively deal with it. I would also google 'resisting sugar cravings' you might find some idea for helping him control his urge.

My XH couldn't resist anything sweet - he would eat whole packets of biscuits or cakes or sweet, I had to divide everything up into separate boxes so each person in the family (of 4)got a share - he had no remorse whatever about eating other peoples share.

Sugar is one of the most addictive things on the planet. Theres so much sugar in a chocolate bar, it stimulates the reward centres in their brain and then they want more.

I find it difficult to restrain myself. Why wouldnt a 9 year old?

Just hide it away better in future. I'm pretty sure my parents had to do the same.

They kept sweets in a jar, in a place where I couldn't get at them because at that age I had no ability to control myself. I dont think I was 9 at that point. But I do remember my mum asking me to go to the shop and I'd buy what she needed and a caramel bar for myself and a pot of Philadelphia. By the time I got home, I'd have eaten it all 😳 no restraint.

You're asking a 9 year old to restrain themselves in the face of a very addictive substance. Help him.

I don't really see it as stealing if he's taking family snacks (apart from the selection box). Have you asked him why he does it? Is he just hungry or is he greedy?