OK, long story short.
Marc gets a call from ex-wife. Something happened in the trailer park, Garrett might be involved, the police are there, she wants Marc to come and try to get him to spill it.
Marc takes off.
Apparently, Garrett, his older sister (10) and 2 neighbor kids took some stuff from a neighbor's back yard. Ex-wife told police the stuff wasn't in her house, but let them search. They found 4 crates of stuff AND a duffel bag in the sister's room! (I guess she isn't much of a housekeeper, anyway.) (Ex was probably sleeping during all of the thievery -- she works nights.)
Garrett told his mom and police that he knew nothing about it. He told Marc he had taken a few things and that he didn't know how the stuff got into his sister's room.
All kids had to apologize to neighbor.
Marc's ex says that Garrett was the ringleader. Marc says he believes Garrett. (I'm sorta suspicious of the fact that he claims he doesn't know how the stuff got in his sister's room -- they do EVERYTHING together!)
Anyway, we were discussing punishment, ahem, consequences. We agreed that the punishment should fit the crime. (For example, at the park, he should have to play in the yard for a period of time because he can't be trusted to roam the park.) BUT, we don't know what we should do here. The four wheeler is broken, so that won't work. Marc suggested no video games, but I'm not sure that fits the crime, either. I said how about no video games and no TV -- that's what he does for fun here. Marc can't stand to be without the TV...
This is why I didn't want to be a parent....
Marc is currently getting Garrett for football practice. I went swimming, but Marc wanted me to be here when he brings Garrett home. I do not know what to say!
I told Marc that I want Garrett to know that we all make mistakes, but that he needs to tell the truth. I don't want him to be known as a thief or a liar.
HELP!
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1 comment:
I saw this too late to help, but I am not sure I know what to tell you anyway. I think being firm with the consequences is probably my best advice (and the one that's still timely). If you say "no x for y days" than make sure you and Marc hold him to the consequences for the full y days, not y-whatever seems like he's learned his lesson.
Like everything, I can only assume that parenting has it's frustrations as well as it's wonderful moments. Don't let one (or a few) incidents taint you perspective.
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