Singlemom - first off, it's not hard at all to hide cash from a 9 year old. At this point you need to be hiding your money, and it's not hard.
His life is awful right now. He has no one to take care of him and love him after school, and welcome him home with a big smile and a hug. There is a saying that children who steal things, are using those things to plug up holes in their hearts.
You kicked him out of your van, which was his afternoon "home" - to where?? Did you just leave him homeless?
This is a 9 year old boy who needs a mommy who greets him at the end of the day. A loving home. Not some van in a parking lot where there is no one.
My heart bleeds for him.
In rereading your post, he's hiding laundry so he doesn't have to do his own laundry. At the age of 9. And now he's sleeping on the floor.
At some point, I'm thinking CPS may be called to your home to look at your situation. Or anyway, hopefully they will be called.
A new kid came into the neighborhood and ultimately has a problem with stealing. - your words
Wondering - is this new kid threatening your son and is your son using the money "to pay him off"? The things in the backpack - who were they for (especially the two bottles of coke)? I don't think we have the whole story here - just wondering ....
Hi, I can see where you are coming from. I don't think taking privileges away will do anything to him. Once they find out nothing bad happens to them after stealing, they will keep doing it, and it doesn't matter how old are they. I remember a neighbor of mine, she actually called the cops and that did it for the kid, he never stole money from her again because he actually got a taste of what happens when you steal. Also counseling or sometimes even bootcamp will help. Call the police and ask them what can you do in this cases, when your own son is stealing from you, I bet you they have a solution. Also talking to the parents of the other kids, having a restraint order and if they are in your house you will call the cops, that also will, somehow, help. I know you are upset at him but something has to change in his life for him to change.
take him to juvi and itll straitend him out, whip his *** with a belt to show him your the boss and hes not, take controll, juvi will be best, he may act like he doesnt car but he does
your a hippie ******* he needs disipline, even she shows him nothing but love and gives his privledges back itll just tell him everything hes doing is ok.
I think you did the right thing in taking everything in his room out and 9 year olds are old enough to learn to do their own laundry if they are mature enough. I have twin 9 year old boys that are having the same problems with stealing. They live with their dad most of the time and visit on weekends so I think they are picking it up there. My husband and I (their stepfather) are at our wits end and it is at the point that their behavior is so bad, no one wants to be around them. I don't know what to do either so good luck to you and me both. P.S. My boys didn't really care about what the police said either. I am tempted to get a friend of mine that works in law enforcement to pick them up and cuff them next time. If they think there are actual consequences for their actions instead of just threats, maybe that will work.