I have a 12-year-old boy who has been stealing food and hiding the evidence in his room instead of getting rid of it for the past 3 years (ever since I got married). He'll lie to my face, but admit his actions to his sister or to other people. I've tried pretty much everything, but don't know what to do to break this habit. HELP!!
2006-11-27 09:32:58 · 8 answers · asked by aileen1072 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
If I have learned nothing in 48 yrs, it is this, that children have more problems to deal with than meets the eyes... This sounds as if this is one of those times. I think you need to look a little deeper into the issue here. Stealing the food is a call for attention, I believe. This started when you got married ? Then I feel this is the bottom line here, YOU got married !! You do not say if this is a step or a natural child of yours , but either way, this is the way I see it. The avenue of hope has been cut off. Dad or mom, which ever applies, will NOT be coming back. To vent this feeling of fear or rejection or whatever emotion is taking over, the child had to find another outlet for his feelings, and stealing the food was an easy and THERE oportuntiy, and was not a dangerous one to undertake. Children choose the darndest ways to express themselves !!! So, I suggest you try this.. 1. give permission to eat what ever and when ever he feels the need, but limit the STEALING to certain foods, which YOU will place in a special place or container, like make it as nutritional as possible, and but the childs name on the container or on the door of the cabnet. Take away the need to hide his emotions from you... 2. put little notes everynite in with the food, expressing your love and little notes saying how proud you are of him. this opens up the communication lines. 3. Put a special waste basket in his room for the junk wrappers and containers . this lets him know you trust him.. 4. Explain to him why you are concerned about his eating habits, without pointing the finger or blaming or condeming him.. he is 12 now and is between the worlds of childhood and adulthood, so speak to him as such.. 5. Give him more *adult* things to do around the house and ask his opinion on a few small things. this takes away the feeling of not being needed or left out. and to be honest, if he has a step dad , he may feel threatened by the authority, which was once Dads... Try these little things, but give it time to sink in, about 2 wks and you should see some improvements..... if not, I suggest waiting another 1 or 2, then maybe after that, getting family counceling !!! good luck and God bless
2006-11-27 09:52:36 · answer #1 · answered by Annie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need a chance of plans. If he eats his supper, I would allow him to eat snacks in his room; however, he has to bring all dirty dishes and leftover food into the kitchen either before he goes to bed or the 1st thing in the morning. When my children were in their teens they liked to have a snack in their rooms while they watched T.V. so I guess I see nothing wrong with that . Believe me this too will pass, someday he will be grown and gone, dont sweat the small stuff. He could be doing so much that is wrong, this is minor.
2006-11-27 09:42:33 · answer #2 · answered by bettyswestbrook 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I so understand what that is like for him. i change into bullied for my acceptance of technology in college. I not in any respect even instructed anybody i'm atheist until eventually a lot later in existence. i change into purely bullied because I universal evolution. i truly, truly do understand. you won't be able to assume that it really is an element. it will be, yet you won't be able to assume that. perchance he will not in any respect believe in any gods. perchance he will stay thoroughly agnostic devoid of forming an opinion on no matter if gods exist. perchance sometime he will benefit some style of religion, I do exactly not recognize. At his age, it really is going to be difficult because he might want to strive against with innovations his mind isn't waiting for, like metaphors and precis idea. that is alright to inform him that it will be a lot less puzzling to understand once he's older, yet we both recognize that couldn't fulfill him. perchance examine yet another e book with him that incorporates a hidden message. once he has a probability to chew on that for a at the same time as, you are able to element out that the Bible makes use of the Adam and Eve tale to communicate about the metaphorical first people who developed, no longer the truly literal those who poofed into existence.
2016-10-07 21:21:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why does he have to steal food? Is he going hungry? If it's compulsive eating, (I wouldn't say I personally recommend this) my uncle once (many years ago) pad-locked the fridge and the kitchen cabinets. My cousin was literally eating to death. Only he and my aunt had the keys. Somehow (I still don't know how) it controlled her and helped modify her eating habits.
2006-11-27 09:41:57 · answer #4 · answered by pirulee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put ex-lax in the food. He'll crap like a maniac. Then you can chuckle and tell him that Jesus punished him.
2006-11-27 09:35:41 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
confrunt him and ask him to tell the truth . if he doesnt go up to his room with him and chek . good luck with that .
2006-11-27 09:41:04 · answer #6 · answered by black rose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just feed the poor kid!!!
2006-11-27 09:38:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
discipline
2006-11-27 09:34:38 · answer #8 · answered by leazngurl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋