I live with my husband and our 2 kids. A boy who is nearly 12 and a girl who is 7. The boy is mine from a previous relationship. He doesn't know his biodad but as my husband has been around for 10 years he is dad to him.
The issue we have at the moment is an ongoing one. My son steals.
He shoplifted when he was 9 (just the once as far as I know) I took him to a local playscheme which was meant to be supervised by the play leader but along with another boy my son left and walked to a local shop where he was caught stealing chocolate. The shopkeeper walked him home and of course I was mortified. My son wasn't allowed back to the playscheme and was grounded for a couple of weeks.
Over the past few years there have been a handful of occasions where he has taken things out of the cupboards (chocolate usually - its not like he starves, I do feed him! Just like to limit the junk) and money from my coat pocket. Usually this is a couple of pounds though on one occasion it was £40 which I was supposedly keeping safe for my sister. The latter happened last summer and since then he seemed to be doing well behaviourally
Anyway, hes started again. Its now a few times a WEEK. Its a couple of pounds each time but the amount (to me) isn't the point.
I have tried shouting, reasoning, asking him why he feels the need to steal from me, rewarding good behaviour with masses of attention, telling him how hurtful it is, telling him what happens if he gets caught as an adult, my partner has (shamefully) even smacked him. I just feel completely helpless now. He is constantly grounded, has had his electrical items (mp4 player, ds etc) all confiscated. He knows he could earn weekly pocket money by tidying his room but instead seems to prefer me catching him steal!!