My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Lone parents

DD1 stolen from me again...so angry

28 replies

PurpleOne · 20/02/2008 00:34

Hey there! Want some advice from all you fonts of knowledge.

DD1 has been light fingered for a long long time.
She's skimmed my pockets, dipped my handbag, stolen from friends and family (always money)
She even took money from my place of work.

I have grounded her, taken tv away, dvd ps2 mobile phone etc in the past. Given her a hiding before and have even taken her down the police station a few times.

However, when I was ill before xmas, I trusted her to go and get some cash out so her and DD2 could at least get some fish and chips, toilet roll etc usual stuff.

She was due today to go out for the first time with her buddies to go cinema and to Pizza Hut afterwards. I gave her my cahscard and said 'a tenner only'. She came back with a atm reciept, thought my CTC was late going in so got a mini statement earlier.
One transaction of £20
Two transactions of £10
and another of £10 with the reciept. All made within 2 minutes of each other.

I know it was DD1. I am surprisingly calm, although my blood is boiling.
Any other suggestions of punishment, before I call her waste of space father and involve the police yet again?

OP posts:
Report
RosaIsRed · 20/02/2008 00:37

How old is she? What do you think she is spending the money on? I would try to find some punishment that involved her earning the money to repay you or penalising her financially in some way. Have you any idea why she is doing this?

Report
PenelopePitstops · 20/02/2008 00:37

how old is she

is i a cry for help for another problem at school or anything, does she need the money for some reason?

Have you sat her down and talked to her about it seriously trying to understadn why she does it?

get her a part time job/pay her to do household chores so she can earn money fo rherself

good thinking in involving the police, keep doing it

Report
madamez · 20/02/2008 00:46

Has she had any kind of counselling or therapy at any stage? Because constant stealing with only rubbish attempts to hide it (ie it's obvious who has taken the money) is usually an indication of severe distress rather than sheer badness. Could she be being blackmailed, or have a drug habit?
I appreciate that you are very angry with her, and understandably, but when it's gone on this long you need to find out why it's happening in order to stop it.

Report
PenelopePitstops · 20/02/2008 00:49

echo mamadez, you will be angry, but the persistence does signify some kind of problem

Report
purpleduck · 20/02/2008 00:52

How old is she?

Sounds like she needs to learn the value of money...make her earn her own money, and stop giving her expensive toys

Report
madamez · 20/02/2008 01:00

Purpleone, just realised you posted on another thread about DC giving their fathers presents, and your XH has rejected your DC. THis may be a bit of an explanation for her behaviour, she's angry and hurt and trying to hurt other people too. I really do think some counselling might help.

Report
Desiderata · 20/02/2008 01:04

What in the name of God are you doing giving her your Cashcard?

If she's a teenager, she will take advantage of that. She just will.

She has a TV in her room. For starters, I'd get rid of that. You've no idea what she's watching late at night.

I stole from my mother when I was a teenager. She was a drunk, and I was angry with her. Really angry.

I've never stolen anything in my life, but from her. There are deeper issues here and you need to find out what they are.

Report
PissyGalore · 20/02/2008 01:07

agree.

she is asking, nay crying out for help love and understanding.

Report
PurpleOne · 20/02/2008 01:13

Purple duck, I don't give her expensive toys. Her damn father trys to keep buying her love with expensive rubbish.

DD1 is 12, 13 in May. She has been in family therapy before, as much as that was.

As much as she cleared out virtually most of my CTC of my acct today, she also swiped my bus fare so I could get to work today.

She gets £5 a week pocket money off her father, and various bits off me in the week with housework jobs, girl guides, karate and a top up bit in school dinners.
She even tries to take her sis pocket money too, offers to pay her back and she never does. DD1 must owe me at least £300 over the years in stolen revenue.

I am so sick of this.

OP posts:
Report
PissyGalore · 20/02/2008 01:22

understandably.

but have you heard what people have said? that she is hurting and doing it for a reason?

go ahead and write her off if you like... seems a bit harsh, but she doesnt seem to expect any more than that anyway so why disappoint?

Report
Desiderata · 20/02/2008 01:22

This girl needs to have a big dose of fuck all.

You need to speak to her father, and tell him that he's to buy her fuck all.

You need to remind yourself, repeatedly, that you also need to buy her fuck all.

She needs a good six months of fuck all.

She will use up the stuff she has accumulated in her cupboards and drawers before she buys any more. She will spend her pocket money on clothes from charity shops. She will save up her pocket money to buy the shit she wants.

And you will stop being frightened of your own daughter. You will lay the law down. She is stealing from you. If anyone else did it, they'd go down.

You are the boss. You are the boss. You are the boss.

Get it????

And then, she'll give you the respect you deserve.

Report
Desiderata · 20/02/2008 01:24

And that's what she needs from you.

That's love.

Report
PurpleOne · 20/02/2008 10:40

PG, I'm not writing her off. She is a lovely child and seems very happy.

The tv / dvd / ps2 / mobile phone are now in my posession. She is grounded for the forseeable future.
I must state that I only earn £20 a week in wages, the rest is made up of Income Support and Child tax / benefit. Money is very tight, I budget down to the last penny every week. I don't need to be £50 down already. We already regularly to go the charity shop for clothes, so DD1 is used to that.
I've rung her father, but as usual, he is as much use as a chocolate teapot.

OP posts:
Report
posieflump · 20/02/2008 10:45

don't give her your cashcard again

Report
wineisthewaytomyheart · 20/02/2008 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chrissnow · 20/02/2008 10:53

Possibly she may have a case of 'Why can't I have what my friends have?' I must state here I am not blaming you in any way or condoning her in any way. If she is used to charity shop stuff and her mates aren't she may want to keep up with them so she steals the cash so she can (do you know what she does with the cash she takes?) If you are a good budgeter (which I suspect you are) then she probably doesn't even realise you are budgeting if to all intents and purposes there is always food on the table/clothes to wear/a rood over your heads etc then in the limited life experience of a teenager their aren't really any money issues .. (iyswim) she may well just think you are being tight and you can afford it really. I pinched bits off my mom when I was younger, I know I had no clue how much she budgeted. By God I got it in the neck. I was forced to take a job to pay her back and any further money I ever wanted then was to be made by myself. A very long term punishment and also a valuable lesson. I've never stopped working since and am proud of my work ethic. And it is all thanks to my mom being tough on me. To be fair she knew all of the whys and wherefores in my case. I do think you need to talk to her. Really talk. Are there any problems. Is she smoking/drinking try not to be angry ( i know i know) Is she trying to keep up with her mates? Is she being bullied for money? She needs to know that she can trust you but that she can't walk all over you either.
Oh and don't bother with her dad (my mom gave up on that one!!!) I love my dad dearly, but he was really too soft and no use in those instances!!
Good luck.

Report
Sobernow · 20/02/2008 10:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MegSophandEmma · 20/02/2008 10:59

I would strip her room bare of everything bar her bed and clothes and get her to earn them back first before giving any treats at all. Absolutley no pocket money or anything before she has earnt her normal luxerys back. By the way I am ashamed to say this but I was a theif when I was young too infact I was 15 when I finally stopped after I was caught by my dad stealing from my mums purse (been caught by mum in past). He did this and also grounded me for 3 months (he stuck to the whole 3 months) and it stopped for good.

Report
cestlavie · 20/02/2008 11:09

People here seem to be raising some good points.

The fact that it's been going on for so long despite the fact that she's been caught (and taken to the police) several times and the fact that she makes no real effort to hide it suggests that it's more than just about the money. That's not to say it's not about the money - I'm sure she likes spending it/ thinks she hasn't got enough/ thinks you can afford it and are just being tight etc.

I mean I don't know about kids today but if I'd been grounded, had stuff taken away and taken down the police by my folks for stealing things you can betcha ass that I wouldn't have so much as looked at a spare penny lying around. How much more can you realistically punish her if none of that is having an effect? Ground her for a year? Take away everything she owns? Stop her having any money? If nothing to date has had an effect I wouldn't imagine that just increasing the severity will have any real effect.

Sovernow raises a really good point. Without knowing anything about her it sounds like she's doing it for more than just money. To show her anger, show her frustration, piss you off, punish you, get attention.

This is a random thought, but rather than just punishing her this time (which, let's face it, is exactly what she's expecting) try talking to her about why she's doing it. Can you do something like take her out for a cup of tea in a cheap cafe nearby (like an adult)? See if you can have some sort of conversation with her about why she's doing it? Tell her how your household budget is. Tell her how much it upsets you. Ask her if she needs more money. Ask if you can do anything. Even (if as is likely) she doesn't give you a half-decent answer, you might still get some sort of clue.

(You can still ground her/ punish her/ report her to the police afterwards if you want of course)

Report
gillybean2 · 20/02/2008 11:57

As others have said there is something more behind this. All the punishing in the world won't fix it.

If all your punishments, including police, have had little effect so far then you have to consider that your daughter might be addicted to something that she has to have money for. Alcohol, cigarettes, slot machines, pills, the buzz of buying things for her friends... It could be anything. Really talk to her and importantly listen. If that gets no where ask the school if they have a counceller she might be able to talk to. Sometimes it's easier to open up to a stranger when you don't have to deal with their disappointemnt in you.

Do not give her your bank card ever again and make sure you get the pin changed. She has shown she can't be trusted with money and has a problem, so don't be putting temptation in her way and then wonder why she takes advantage of it. Don't leave your purse or money lying around where she can get to it. You have a responsibility to ensure she can't be tempted to steal while you sort this out.

I myself stole money from my mother's purse. It all started when i needed subs money for guides. I found it very difficult to talk to me parents and even now still have trouble asking for things. So rather than dealing with asking, and being hurt by saying out loud the equivalent of 'you have no interest in my life and aren't even aware that i need to pay subs for guides or whatever it might be and that really hurts me' I just took the money.

On some level too I now think I was angry with my parents too for not caring enough to know these things and not knowing that i needed money for subs and the other things i took the money to pay for, but mostly it hurt that they had no idea about my life and i didn't want to draw attention to that to make it even more painful. I didn't have a very happy childhood and my parents were too busy and much older so didn't have time for their children.

I had (still have) no idea how to talk to my parents or that i could ask for things. I then started taking more and more money so I could buy sweets on the way to school like everyone else did, and to suppliment my lunch money which didn't cover the cost of lunch in the cafeteria but I couldn't tell them that. And then I treated a friend to her sweets, after which she expected me to buy them for her all the time as she had no money and i had rich parents in her eyes. I didn't have many friends so thought I needed to do this to make sure she stayed my friend.

It finally came to a head and my Dad spoke to me about it, though he never asked me why i took it, but said that they would start giving me some pocket money in future. It was a real relief in a lot of ways to be able to stop. I also got myself a weekend and holiday job at the age of 14 so I earnt my own money at that point.

You really need to teach your daughter the value of money. She simply doesn't understand about your budget. My son certainly doesn't understand when i say we have no money for the cinema, but i then go and put petrol in the car and buy food or we go to the play centre because i have money left in those budgets but not in the school holiday budget. Your daughter is old enough for you to explain these things to her.

Talk to her about how much money you get each week and what you have to spend it on. Show her what is left after bills and how much you have to spend on food, clothes etc from that. Then take off the extras you do for them etc.

Your daughter probably doesn't see the money you spend on her school dinners, karate and guides as money you give her. Your her mum, it's your responsibility to provide these things in her eyes, she doesn't think of it as money you give to her. Show her in your budget that you put aside so much for her activities and what you actually spend on her out of all your money. Make it clear this is money you regard as spending on her personally and that you choose to do this, you do not have to do it.

£5 a weekpocket money is a lot I feel, but if her dad wants to give that to her let him. Insist she pays you back what she owes from that money, at say £1 a week and also by getting a paper round or other job (washing neighbours cars, walking their dogs etc). Tell her sister not to lend her any more money and that she is to ask you before she gives her money in future.

Get your daughter to set up her own budget. So of her £5 pocket money £1 goes to you to pay back her debts, then £2 on magazines, £1 make up, 50p sweets, 50p savings. Get her to budget out what she spends and show her that if she wants to buy something specific she either has to save up for it or cut back on her other budgets to cover it. Teach her the value of money now or she will have a problem when she is older.

But most importantly try and get to the bottom of what all this is really about. My parents never did that with me, and i still have a problem today with asking for things and with spending money on myself.

Best of luck
Gilly

Report
MsPontipine · 22/02/2008 00:19

Gosh - did we all steal from our mum's purse?? I'm ashamed to say I did (for cigarettes) I've never discussed it with my mum - however once I woke up in her bedroom - I was doing it in my sleep - I was a terrible sleep walker!! She asked mw what I was doing. I just ran off back to bed and never did it again.

Report
fortyplus · 22/02/2008 01:57

SHE IS TWELVE. She's being sent out with her mother's cash card when she's out with her mates.

That's just not very bright, is it?

She's been taken to the police, been 'given a hiding' and her mother says 'DD1 must owe me at least £300 over the years in stolen revenue.'

Her father has apparently rejected her.

This CHILD is hurting. She's being punished like a 16 year old - except for being hit because obviously a 16 year old would be big and strong enough to hit back.

I think it's the parents who need to look at their own behaviour first.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

littlewoman · 22/02/2008 02:21

Sell something of hers to recoup the money.

Report
PurpleOne · 22/02/2008 14:22

She didn't go out with her mates, with my cahscard firstly. She dropped the cashcard back to me at home before she went out.
I have lent her it once before, when I was ill in bed, just so they could get some food and bits in the house.

She used to get £3.50 a week off her father, but I asked him to raise it because we'd had an excellent report at parents evening.. she's really turned herself around since last year.

I asked her why she took it. 'don't know' she says. I made out a list of my budget and included all the things I give her money for.
I also asked her what she did with it. £4 cinema, £4 pizza hut buffet and the rest went on sweets and ice cream.

I don't go around stealing and helping myself to anything that isn't nailed down. It's not just me that she's done it to.

OP posts:
Report
dittany · 22/02/2008 14:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.