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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wibu to sell my son's PS4 for €3.40?

95 replies

Myheartbelongsto · 19/09/2017 16:40

My son stole €3.40 from my coat pocket today when I went to collect my daughter from violin practice at school. Not the first time, feel I've tried everything as far as punishment goes.

Would I be unreasonable to sell his precious PS4 for the same amount?

Harsh I know!

OP posts:
SnowiestMountain · 19/09/2017 16:42

You could pretend you had and put it in the garage/loft/wherever

Smeaton · 19/09/2017 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

humblesims · 19/09/2017 16:42

I dont quite see how one thing equates to the other. Was the £3.40 special to you? Its a misdemeanor, yes and should be punished but I think your idea is a bit OTT.

CryingShame · 19/09/2017 16:43

How old is your son? And what did he need / use the money for? (is he being bullied, for example, and needs to pay money to someone else?)

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 19/09/2017 16:43

I think it would be a huge waste of money, but each to there own.

I'd be more proactive in punhsiments, chores, grounding, gadget ban, for at least a month, I hate theives and it's a criminal offence!

Have you contacted the community police also? My aunt did this to my nieces, and they had a serious world with her.

clairethewitch70 · 19/09/2017 16:44

That is so OTT. How old is your DS?

ChocolateButton15 · 19/09/2017 16:44

If you paid for the ps4 then yes yabu because you are putting yourself more out of pocket! It would be better to take it away or cut his internet access off. How old is he?

MyOtherProfile · 19/09/2017 16:44

Yes

PollyFlint · 19/09/2017 16:45

How old is your son, how frequently does he steal from you and what's he using the money for?

Perfectly1mperfect · 19/09/2017 16:46

The punishment would depend on how old he is ? Big difference between a 5 year old and a 14 year old taking money imo.

Wheresmytaco · 19/09/2017 16:46

No, absolutely not.

£3.40 in my hand waiting

araiwa · 19/09/2017 16:47

Ill give you €3.50

Original poster
Myheartbelongsto · 19/09/2017 16:47

He is 11, not the first time he has stolen. Tried grounding him, taking away pocket money, given him extra chores all the usual suspects.

Not being bullied. He's more than likely gone to the local Spar/centra to buy sweets.

The money wasn't special to me no but that's not the point.

To me the amount of what he has stolen is irrelevant it's the fact that he has stolen.....again.

OP posts:
Wheresmytaco · 19/09/2017 16:49

I'd hide it and make him earn it back... weeks of labour. You'd probably just end up buying him another machine otherwise

Original poster
Myheartbelongsto · 19/09/2017 16:51

To add we are just back from Spain where he also stole from my purse, €10. Two separate occasions, €5 each time.

The €3.40 was my bus fare for work tomorrow and he knows things are tight since we have just been on holiday and yesterday had to buy a violin for my daughter and pay for lessons which started just today.

OP posts:
GlitterSparkles17 · 19/09/2017 16:53

I would hide the PS4 and also change the wifi password (if he has a phone etc.)

Doesn't really matter how much he stole, the fact that he's stolen off his own mum is pretty bad. If you don't punish him it will only get worse. For an 11 year old, taking their gaming/phone is like the worst thing you could do!

Quartz2208 · 19/09/2017 16:54

You can remove the PS4 for a certain amount of time (even say you have sold it) but selling it is really only causing you to lose something

backOffSunshine · 19/09/2017 16:54

Yes. Very unreasonable.

That isn't to say you don't have my sympathies but that wouldn't be the way to deal with it.

Removing it would be a first step.

purplecorkheart · 19/09/2017 16:55

I would take away the console and change the wifi password (I must confess that I have no idea how). As it is the third incident I would keep them for a couple of weeks.

Bluffinwithmymuffin · 19/09/2017 16:57

He's stolen again, so impose sanctions/ punish him again. Just because it's a repeat offence, doesn't mean previous punishments didn't have some effect BUT I don't think punishment has to get harsher, necessarily, as long it's something he recognises.

Selling the PS4 would be pointless imo- withdraw it for a while, make him earn it back somehow?

WomblingThree · 19/09/2017 16:58

Maybe he feels if your daughter is getting a violin and lessons (even though you've told him money is tight) then he's entitled to a few sweets.

Obviously that doesn't make it right, but it's 11 year old boy logic.

Perfectly1mperfect · 19/09/2017 16:58

In that case I would give the usual lecture on why stealing is wrong. If you explained how it upsets you is he the sort of child that would feel guilty ? Is so that may stop him from doing it again. I would then find out what he wanted it for and tell him to come to me in future if he wants money. Then I would ban something that he will feel bothered by like screen time, out with friends etc. Only you know the thing that will bother him.

I think that's all you can do really, but make sure you stick with the punishment.

Branleuse · 19/09/2017 16:58

Id go nuts at him, and do a punishment, but i wouldnt sell his PS.

Sandsunsea · 19/09/2017 16:58

Yanbu. He needs to see your ott batshit crazy gangster side exists. Stealing from you is completely unacceptable. It isn't the first time so he clearly hadn't yet learned that his actions have consequences. You do not want him to be a theif. Sell the PS4.

mummmy2017 · 19/09/2017 16:59

Take it away, and when he asks where it is, say you don't know, just like he didn't know where the cash went.
Don;t give it back till he comes to you and says sorry.
I wouldn't sell it as it will cost you to replace it.

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