A wicked witch put Pic n Mix sweeties in DD's pocket.

[LynetteScavo]

Two sweets, while I was paying at the video shop.

She told us in the car on the way home.

DS1 told her she shouldn't eat them, as if a witch had put them in her pocket they must be poinsoned, and she would fall asleep for 1000 years. But if she'd put them in her pocket herself she would be OK to eat them. Which she promtly did, and started sobbing that she didn't want to be arrested. Then fell asleep.

She's 4.5yo.

Sorry, nearly spat my tea all over keyboard when I read your post.
It is very funny, but I feel you adopt a stern face when talking to your DD and DS about it (snigger later if that helps)
Tell her it is wrong to take things from shops, she seems to know that already, and if you think necessary maybe stop her having a treat later at home. Tho I would prob think the chat is enough.
good luck

I would make her earn a few pennies doing something for me around the house, like a bit of dusting or hoovering, then take her back to the video shop and make her pay for them and say sorry she didn't pay last time. Or make her put the money in a charity pot if you can't be arsed going back to the video shop.

I would also take her back to explain and pay / appologise.

Brilliant psychology from DS there, I see a future for him as a criminal investigator.

Hmmm....well as she's still asleep I won't be marching her back to pay today (although my mum would have!). I think I'll tell her I've paid for them when I take the DVDs back.

I have been very stern about it, which I think is why she was so scared about being arrested.

How mcuh do you think 2 pick n mix sweets would cost, any way?

Ooo, dunno about just telling her that you paid for them, I reckon to drive the lesson home that you can't bail them out for criminal activity, you have to make them do the time themselves

I'd do what captainpicard said.

I'm utterly in awe of your son's investigative talents.

your DS is brilliant!

Fairies once wrote DD1s name on her bedroom wall.

That's hilarious,and you have a VERY clever ds1, because I wouldn't have tjhought of that

Actualy...I'm too shy to go back to the video shop with her...I just couldn't take my children to a shop to pay for something they'd taken, due to my own shame. Does that make me a bad mum? Will telling her to give me some money form her money box, then telling her I've given it to the man be sufficient to get the message home to her?

Am I over stressing about this, I've been thinking about it all evening.

I don't think there's any reason to be shy about it. If you walked in and explained what had happened, then made your dd hand over the cash they're only going to think that you're being a fantastic parent, unless they're really dim, that is.

Shall I tell you what happened to me and my dd?

When she was 7, she went with a friend to the friend's dad's workplace, a bookshop. They were left unsupervised for a little while and played a game that involved them defacing about £400 worth of hardback books

After discussing it with the friend's dad, he decided that the best thing would be for him to pay back the money by doing overtime. He didn't ask us for money because he shouldn't have left them unsupervised, and also he knew that we were skint at the time (dh was a student then).

There was no way on earth I was going to let dd get away with it, I had to ram home the message that defacing other people's property (especially to that extent) wasn't on.

I made her write an apology letter, then frogmarched her down to the shop to give it to the manager by hand.

Yes, I was embarrassed, but not half as embarrassed as dd was. The manager appreciated it, had a chat with dd about what had happened but wasn't horrible to her.

She's never done it again, I can tell you!

Blimey, Scrudd!!

Well, DD insisted herself that we go and pay, as she was quite worried about being arrested. She said she would hand over the money and say sorry if I did the talking.

The woman behind the counter was very nice, and couldn't keep a straight face, even though she tried. And very kindly gave me the £1 back that DD had paid her.

Hopefully this will be the end of DD's life of crime.

my 5 yr old grandson tells the most enormous stories lies whatever, while looking directly at you and with the evidence in hand, on his face etc. He's almost 7 now and more or less stopped. probably by about 9ish!!!!!!!!!!! must not be condoned tho' in any way as you say laugh later.