Lying in bed just now, DS12 in his bed next door. Suddenly his phone starts making a racket, and he says "why has my phone randomly started making weird noises?". I'm up out of bed and see he's is sitting down near the end of his bed holding it and stopping the noise.
He puts its on his drawers where it's supposed to be at bedtime. I ask him, "where was your phone?" He tells me on his drawers. He says he's sure. He promises. I tell him I'll ask him one more time if he was on it. All quiet.... yes. Says "I'm sorry for lying mum". I simply tell him to give me it and take it away. He apologies again.
I'm so annoyed as we had a massive talk about using his phone responsibly only 6 weeks ago, again because he was getting snapchats at midnight, taking and sending stupid pics etc. I warned him then that it was his last chance to keep his phone and therefore the independence he's been allowed over the last year.
But I'm annoyed at the disrespect, and the instantaneous attempt to fool me, then bare face lie to me not once, but three times.
He is 12, he's a good boy usually, and it's hardly robbing old grannies, but he needs to learn, right?
How would you punish this? I had told him any more nonsense he'd lose the phone, but only in the last week I've given him a key to come home afterschool for half an hour on his own instead of meeting me at work, so don't want to take the phone away in case of emergencies. But I could and it just means he has to come to work again. He has a party next weekend which he'll be desperate to take photos at etc. So is a week without out adequate?
I never really have to punish him, so I'm not sure what's too harsh and what's too lenient