My son stole money from his teachers desk. when i asked him why he took it all he says is that he wanted a choc milk. It is the first time that he's stolen anything but he has been in trouble before at school with fighting. I don't think he really understands how wrong his actions are even though i've explained it to him several times. I've told him that he has really disappointed me and it makes me sad when his teacher tells that he's been naughty when i know that he can be a good boy. I'm at the end of my teather when it comes to his behavour please give me some advice on how to handle this

How old is he?

my son is 8 years old

As a child, i was a little theif myself, not a big one, but what's big and what's small?

I wouldn't fathom doing it now and it only happened as a child.

At Primary School, so i would have been around your son's age, i stole 20c, also to by a "milk" but mine was a bread roll and potato chips. The reason was my mum used to put those mustard pickles that still exist today on meat in my sandwich and of course, i'd be ridiculed.. "pier pressure"... So this way, i looked cool like the rest of them, as their mother's all gave them lunch money.

My parents didn't have much, hense the cut lunches.

When i was a little older, i stole a packet of chips from the deli. And, got caught. Same reason though, i was hungry and threw my lunch away and was never allowed to eat anything before dinner, so i would eat all my dinner. Even though mum left nuts and chocolates out on the table all the time, ( for the adults).

I even "pinched thoses" and got caught, hiding them in my clothes, well temptation was in front of me.

Again, at my Grandmother's i pinched 50c, again to by potato chips but because i had done it a few times i guess, i then liked the thrill of it, yep fraid so.

Then at 16, i left home and stole underwear and pens, things i needed and yep, got caught, obviously i was lousy at it.... that was for survival but the point is, i gained a pattern.

So, i guess, if he's pinching to buy milk, it could also be that his mates are given money to buy simular things and he feels left out, or has that pier pressure.

What you don't want him to do is get a hang of it....

As much as we want our children to be independant and not like the rest, and of course if money is short, once done, if they have no fear like i didn't still don't then it will happen again.

So, i think you need to see why he wanted the milk and then try to fix that problem so that occurance, exits his mind and he never does it again.

You see little kids in shops picking up lollies, chocolates asking "can i have" and the answer is no... So, it's kind of "no" if he says can i have $2 for some milk, in their mind.

Just of course sharing my occurance and how i remember it.

Why did i stop? Well, i didn't originally and became quite good at it in the end because it became a thrill. Basically, i was very good at any work i chose to do, as i result money was always good with me, and i didn't need to anymore.

And, i "forgot".....

Hope that helps......