Last month, I posted about several incidents that took place with our daughter. The outpouring of support and understanding that I received from my fellow bloggers was overwhelming. Thank you! I don’t know how I would be able to persevere through this trying time without each and every one of you.
Rather than dwell on the negative, I have been trying to understand the rationale behind my daughter’s behavior. Like any good Mom, I turned to Google to find my answers. This is was I was able to dig up regarding why children steal…
1) Modeling
Children learn by watching their parents. Parents who take things that do not belong to them may be teaching their kids that stealing is OK.
Could it be that my daughter knows of the indisgressions that I committed as a teenager? Taking my parent’s car for a joy ride at age 16, in an attempt to impress my friends, was definitely not my smartest move ever.
2) Some children have no money of their own to buy what they want
Perhaps my daughter is in need of disposable income? Children who don't have their own money to spend may steal what they want.
3) To make themselves look good in front of peers
The peer pressure that I see among children today is, quite simply, outrageous. To make matters worse, our daughter runs with a pretty “rough” crowd. It would make sense that she began stealing because her peers are doing it and she wants to be accepted.
I think our only answer is intervention. I came across what I think may be the perfect solution: Brat Camp, a therapeutic school and wilderness program for troubled kids.
I took some time to read over the fine print for the program. Since each of the children who spend time at Brat Camp are filmed and their story is aired on television, I would have to agree not to contact my daughter for the duration of the program. As an added bonus for allowing our daughter to be filmed, the production company would provide intervention and transportation services at no charge.Wow! Treatment and fame. It sounds like the perfect solution, right? The only problem is that I think our daughter might be a bit too young for the program.
In reality, my husband and I have lovingly started referring to our little Lucia as “Trouble.” She works diligently each and every day to live up to her nickname. Trouble's escapades this week included running my car keys through the dishwasher and making our toliet overflow in an attempt to flush a container of playdough. Oh, and if you are trying to call me on my cell phone, you should probably give up. Trouble managed to get her little hands on my phone on Monday and I haven’t seen it since.-Francesca
47 comments:
Too bad there's an age limit on Brat camp! ;)
We have a Gozer the Destructor at our house.
Wow, she sounds like trouble! If she wasn't so darn cute, it might not be okay!
www....she is too cute! I miss mine at that age. Fortunately, mine never pulled that sort of stuff at that age. Oh boy, what is to come for the teenage years???!!!! LOL
Well. Let's plan on NEVER letting her and Asher meet okay? I'm not sure what would happen, as Asher has been known to be a little 5 finger discount man himself.
Such a cute picture of Trouble. Bummer about the stealing...good luck on fixing that:)
And so sorry about the people list on my blog. I haven't updated it forever----it's still mainly people I actually "know." But I'm headed over to my blog to add and update.
The naughty ones are also so cute!
I am a big fan of brat camps. But why start at 6? Start them at 2. Hard labor for children!!
If I ever come for a visit, please remind me to leave my purse in the car:)
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
Trouble is so cute though! You might want to start shopping around for a new cell phone. Everything my daughter takes, I still have yet to find...I think she may be part ferret :)
Oh no, she sounds like my 2 yr old son! If it can be broken, it will be broken! You should see what he can do to the computer with just a key keystrokes!
I think Trouble is my new BFF!
BlogBaby
maaaah-ahahaha! Trouble would eat my kids for breakfast! What a cutie!
I think you can use this to your advantage. Nobody will arrest that cute face! You just need to train her to take the big stuff, ya know take her to the electronics department I'm sure she could manage a camera or two. And if she gets caught you just play innocent. Oh, I'm sorry officer it was an accident :)
Or you can wait for Brat camp.
She is an adorable little trouble-maker!
ohh how this made me laugh!
She is adorable! & who is this rough crowd shes hanging with? ;)
Never too young for Brat Camp, I say.
Holy god, she's cute.
Looks like the thing she'll be stealing most often in hearts!
Awwww...
BTW, thanks for visiting my blog - I really appreciate that!
Have a great weekend and keep an eye on that wallet, fo' shizzle.
:^) Anna
A criminal too cute to put behind bars... Skip the fame - she'll never be able put her nefarious skills to use as an adult if everyone knows who she is. :p LOL
I have a feeling your little one and mine would get along famously....
Oh she is a little doll! I have to laugh at this because my youngest was a terror. I never thought he'd survive to see the age of two. His older brother (a.k.a The Toddler Thief) used to grab things from stores as he went by them in his stroller.
Sometimes I had to figure out what store it came from so I could return it.
I think I have a "Trouble" in the making... Kara is only 8 months old but I can already tell that she will give us a run for our money someday.
I am NOT looking forward to her being mobile. at. all. :(
Good Luck with "Trouble"...she sure is a CUTIE!
But with that face - no charge will every stick!
She sounds just like my little girl!
I have a little "Trouble" of my own, aka Johnny. I am holding onto a saying I once heard,"Terrible Toddler = Terrific Teenager!" Please God let it be true!
Trouble in our house comes in the form of baby chicklet and her 4 year old going on 16 year old ways. If only she weren't so stinkin' cute!
And she looks so innocent in the picture.......I don't believe the hype. She's just expressing her creative spirit. BTW.....I am really slow and cannot find Wenda. Am I being punk'd?
She may be trouble, but she sure is cute!!
How come the cute ones are always the most trouble?!
Haha... google has great parenting advice! ;)
She is darling! I think the cops might let her off the hook. :)
WHAT??? She isn't getting an allowance at her age yet? She really needs to have some cash so that she can impress her friends and the boys with some new shoes and cool diaper covers. Come on..GEEZ, poor little girl. No wonder she needs brat camp. :)
PS...we call our second born Tornado since she can come into any room and have it completely turned upside down in 6.2 seconds and you don't even know what hit you.
Oh Ya, Tell Trouble that I am still wanting an iphone so, if she could get her hands on one...that would really help me out. I am sure we can work out some sort of trade, binkies, blankies, cookies???
HEE HEE! :-) Intervention, I just got a priceless "mental" image of a toddler on the sofa, with the therapist, and all concerned crying family around.
Trouble?...not that cute little girl! I've a little "trouble" on my hands too!
Trouble, that's funny. Miles managed to drool his way through 2 cell phones. Somehow he manages to get it just right inside to fry the whole thing!
"trouble" is adorable. A cutie like that is going to be "trouble" for Daddy for years to come. :)
Love your blog.
That quite possibly, is the cutest little trouble I have ever seen!!
Ummmmm, I hear kleptomania is genetic. I'm just saying. Might wanna check out your husband's side of the family.
I did a wikipedia search and this is the exact quote " People with this disorder are compelled to steal things, generally things of little or no value, such as pens, paper clips, tape, small toys, or cuckoo clocks. Some may not be aware that they have committed the theft."
Soooo, better look out for those cuckoo clocks!! At least you know what's coming!
ps. that pic where she's laughing? I had that EXACT same face after I stole a car!
Been there done that! When my youngest was 5 she stole some gum. I found this out at dinner when her older brother ratted her out. I said "Well you better go get your coat." She said "Why?" I said "It's cold in prison and it's my duty to turn you in." Now older rat fink starts to cry.
Then theif girl starts to cry. She looks at her rat fink brother and blurts out through the tears "Oby I'm going to the slammer!" I thought, what does she know about the slammer she is only 5, who knows at 5 to call prison the slammer? Anyway dinner is now a cry fest and I am trying not to laugh while thinking I am such a mean mother.
I then told her I would get the store manager to go easy on her if I could of course. We would have to take the gum back and see what he would decide.
Long story short, she never stole again!
Trouble is too young for such a conversation. Have fun!!
Three of my readers said my blog is not showing up as updated and didn't know I posted something new. Did my Friday post show up as new on Friday? Not sure if you would notice, but thanks!
its always the cute ones!! HA!! my youngest is like that.
as a newbie to your blog you had me going!!
What a cutie! I have a little "trouble" of my own!
I think your phone went down with the playdoh...yikes. Too funny, and she is way too cute to be "trouble"...send her my way, I have the my own trouble over here:)
The "naughty" ones really are the cutest :)
Her looks will definitely keep her out of some trouble! She does seem rather mature for her age so she might give the Brat Camp people a run for their money. Or maybe you could start a Toddler Boot Camp. You've got google....you could totally do it!
Your trouble reminds me of our Princess. That child kept me on my toes, and still managed to be on a first name basis with poison control. I am surprised we both survived her young childhood. Hang tough. Maybe you and your hubby should consider starting a toddler boot camp?
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