When I picked the girls up from daycare on Wednesday I was running super late. I’m supposed to get there by 6:30pm, or I have to pay $5 for every 5 minute increment after 6:30. I pulled into the parking lot at 6:31 and probably didn’t get the car parked and walk in to the daycare until 6:33. I was prepared to pay the fee, because I was late and I know their policy, but when I walked in no one said anything. Maybe they didn’t know it was 3 minutes after? Or maybe they were just being nice? I wasn’t sure, but I wanted to get the heck out of there before someone said something. I quickly gathered the girls and all of their stuff and scooted out the door. Mission accomplished – No $5 fee! I hurried to get the girls into the car and we drove home.
As I parked my car, Erajh came out of the house to help me with the kids. Greenleigh got out of the car and I noticed that she had a small rectangular item down her pants, towards her hip. Erajh noticed it right away, and knew exactly what it was.
“Why did you let her steal that?”, he asked. I think this is where he figured out that I had no idea what he was talking about, so he elaborated, “That’s the princess cell phone down her pants. I stopped her from taking it yesterday, why did you let her take it today?”
And at that point, I had a Modern Family moment and burst out laughing. At two years old, she stuffed a toy cell phone down her pants and stole it from her daycare. I would buy this child any toy that she wanted, but no, she’d rather steal. Clearly, she’s headed for a life of crime. She had pulled one over on me. She knew I wasn’t paying enough attention to stop her and she got away with it. And I had driven her getaway car.
Her actions were definitely intentional too, because when she saw Erajh’s reaction and realized what we were talking about, she started to run. Like on the show Cops. Erajh would go to the left side of the car and Greenleigh would run around to the right side, where I was waiting for her. She then would pivot on one foot and make a complete 180 like a great running back going back toward Erajh. This went on for about 4 minutes. Fortunately there was no fence to scale, because I have no doubt she would have climbed one if given the chance. We eventually had to tackle her and pull the phone from her pants, Cops style.
Then came the hard part – putting on the upset, disappointed mommy face. I mean really, it was hilarious. And the fact that she put the phone exactly where a pocket would be, was just adorable. But stealing is wrong and you have to teach kids that some things aren’t theirs. So in front of our house, while being held (in a very similar manner to the suspects on the show Cops) we explained what she had done and why it was bad.
So here’s where I need some mommy advice. The original plan was that she was going to have to return the phone to the daycare the next day and say she was sorry, but it didn’t quite work out that way. I forgot, and just noticed that it’s still in our house tonight. A bit of a mommy fail on my part. Then I started to wonder – Should I even return it at all? I hardly think they noticed and it did spend a good amount of time down her pants. I’m not sure I would want her playing with a toy that spent anytime at all down another kid’s pants, but then again, I’m sure she has touched things that have been worse places. And I’m almost positive that if I told the school what happened, they would laugh and tell me not to worry about it. But, it’s not ours and there’s a lesson for her to learn here…right?
What’s the parenting protocol here? Clorox it and return it or forget it and move on? Or do I need to buy a new toy to give to the daycare to replace it? What would you do?
omg that IS funny!! I would supply the daycare with a new toy. Im sure you are correct when you say they would find it funny (im sure there have been several toy thefts in the past) but teaching her a lesson is much more important! STILL hilarious tho!
That is definitely hilarious! Our 4 year old has stolen before. I called the people she stole from, asked them to be particularly stern with her, then took her back and made her return it. I wanted it to be a memorable enough experience that she wouldn’t do it again. I’d definitely take it back and have her apologize, even if it is a few days late 🙂
I did something similar when I was 3. My parents yelled at me and slapped me then I was made to take the lego toy back and apologise. My mother was mad for a very long time thats what I remember! It was harsh and out of line but it did teach me to never steal or I would get smacked. I did get slapped a lot so it did not really make a difference. Honestly don’t yell or slap. Just do what you did. As for returning it, you mayas well if she apologises it could teach her.
I would surely return the toy phone even if yu had it for a few days after the fact. Hand it to your daughter and have her return it and say I am sorry for taking home something that was not mine. And at the same time you did the same as her. You stole from the daycare. You knew you own them $5.00 dollars for being late and did not pay them. So when your daugher returns the phone you can say and by the way on __________ I was late. By the time I parked and got out of my car into the daycare. I was such in a hurry that I forgot to pay you my late fee. They might just say foget it abot it for just acknowledge it. Good luck.
I would make her return it and have her apologize to the teacher. By hiding the phone in her pants she knows that it is not hers to begin with especially since daddy made her leave it the previous day. Have you asked her why she did it? I would have laughed to bcuz she was pretty smart in concealing it but if she is doing this now who knows what you will find next week-lol!
She needs to return it and apologize. She needs to learn how uncomfortable that will make her feel which will hopefully stop it from happening again. She is a smart kid though!
As a child care provider, I’d say this: Definitely, clorox it and have her take it back AND explain to them where it’s been. To go a step farther (if you wanted to), you could have her buy a new one with her own money and take it there. But at the very least, take it back.
I would have her return it cloroxed or not.. I went through the same thing, and it’s a hard lesson but they have to learn. M son used to like to steaal those little toggle things to tose clog shoes from stride Brite. I made him return them, let him know stealing was serious, but the shoe salesman was less than helpful; oh, it happens all the time, he shrugged. So mich for my life lesson! Any hoot, thanks for linking up with us on our weds hop!
Too cute! It is hard to put on a serious face when they do such cute things! 🙂
Stopping in from Nicole’s blog hop Wednesday!
LOL, this made me smile. The things I have to look forward to as a mom! 🙂