Behavior (Stealing)

Make her return it, explain what happened and apologize HERSELF. Nip this in the bud NOW!

If she is generally a good kid, let her know you are disappointed that she made a wrong decision but that she isn't a bad person. if she did it for attention, when she apologizes she'll get the attention she is looking for. If she stole b/c she feels like she is poor, then that is another story you might have to tackle.

Sorry this happened though. I know its embarrassing, for her and for you.

I agree with both answers so far.

I stole a 5 stick package of Juicy Fruit gum when I was about 10. I had to return the last stick and pay for it. I earned the money by washing and drying dishes for my parents. It took me about 5 weeks to earn the money at 2 cents per WEEK of washing all the dishes we used. (Family of 4) I sweat over that 5 stick package of jucy fruit gum and I didn't even get to chew the last stick. My day and mom both talked to me. The store manager "talked " to me. I never stole another thing, except my wife's heart. ;-))

When my 8 or 9 year old daughter stole lipstick from a grocery store, I took her up to see the store manager. He took the lipstick and told her he couldn't sell it because it had been used and told her how much it was. She asked again how much it was. I told her she could borrow the money from me, but she would have to earn it back. She pulled weeds, picked up trash, washed dishes, fed the chickens and gathered eggs. It took her just over three weeks to earn a stick of lipstick. To the best of my knowledge she never stole anything again. My other kids learned from what happened to her and I didn't have a problem with them either.

Good luck to you and yours.

I stole a quarter from my Brownie leader when I was little. My mom walked me over to her house and made me hand it back to her and apologize for stealing. It was VERY embarrassing to have to look her in the face and admit what I did. I've never stolen anything since! Making her face her friend's mom while handing the stolen item back, and SINCERELY apologizing for it, should stick with her and make her think twice about doing something like that again.

I agree with P S. make her take it back to her friends' mother. Have her apologize to the mom and her friend. I would have her write out why she stole the ring in the first place and why she felt it was right to do so. After she is done writing the paper have her read it to you, then sit down with her and explain to her what will happen if this continues. I'm sorry to hear that this happened. If this doesn't stop her in her tracks you may have to look at doing something that will not really scare her but shock into realizing that this path isn't the one she wants to be on.

When my 9 year old stole something, upon finding out, I brought him back to the store. I asked for the owner. He had to hand the stolen property back. He apologized for doing something so wrong. The store owner told him that he didn't want to see him in the store for one month. I asked if there were any chores he could do for him and he said NO, he didn't trust him. That totally broke his heart to hear that. Years later the store own stopped me and told me how much he appreciated MY honesty and how I handled the situation. Stop it in its tracks. The humiliation and disappointment was far better than punishment. I believe he told me recently that he has always remembered that day and has never stole another thing.

After you talk to her about stealing and how it is wrong, then take her to the friends home and have her to return the ring and apologize for taking it. She also needs to understand that this parent may not want her in her home because she has stolen from her and that is a reality of the choice that she made. Prayerfully this will not happen again. Try to keep it between you, your daughter and the parent. This way she might be able to avoid being known as the girl that will steal from your house.