A little girl stole my goggles, but cried when I confronted her, was it right to let her keep them?

Question

A little girl stole my goggles, but cried when I confronted her, was it right to let her keep them?
I went to the pool to swim laps, but I ran into a friend, so I went to the diving pool instead. When we got there, the lifeguard told a girl to get out of the diving pool because people where going to jump.
I left my goggles in the stairs from the platform, I jumped and when I got out of the water my goggles were gone. I dove into the 5-meter pool looking for them on the bottom, but nothing. I get out, look around, and I see the 9-year-old girl with them, and I told her they were mine. She insisted they were theirs, they were just the same brand. I was about to believe her, but they I noticed the stretched out thing that goes on the nose. I have a big nose, and I always stretch or break the thing that goes on your nose form the goggles. I told her those were MINE because she couldn't have possibly stretch the goggles that way. Then she took them off, and started crying really loud. I felt so bad I let her keep them.

Did I do the right thing?

I really loved those goggles, they were one of the few goggles that only got stretched out, and hadn't break so far.

Answer 1

Well that's probably what I would've done in order to not make a big scene. I guess you could just try really hard to find another good pair.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

No, you shouldn't have let her keep them. At nine-years-old, she knows stealing is wrong. You're positive they were your goggles, and from the evidence, they probably were. You should have said, "Why did you steal my goggles?" then say that stealing is wrong and that she'll get in big trouble. If she still refuses to give them back, find her parents and explain what happened. Now you just let a little girl get away with stealing.

I'm also wondering where the parents were and I'm thinking she probably manipulates her parents into giving her what she wants when she cries. Next time, don't leave your goggles somewhere out of your eyesight. If they were this important to you, you wouldn't have left them where you did. So I guess that's two lessons in one shot!

Answer 3

I guess, if they were inexpensive, but if you paid a lot, yes, I would want them back too. And where's her parents, at this pool ? I would not let my kids take something that was not theirs. They could stomp, scream, cry, whatever. But, mine were taught that a long time ago. If her parents were being observant, they could've been there to point out the fact that the nosepiece was stretched out ! I wouldn't want my kids getting into other peoples personal things , such as goggles, or anything that goes on someone elses body parts, or mucous membranes ! And from your side of it, you don't know what the child has been doing either !

Answer 4

You may not have done "the right thing", but it sounds like your heart was in the right place. Also it is not your place to make this dishonest little girl into a good person, her parents have to be the good example she grows to live by. At worst you taught her that adults are too mature to confront children, and it is up to their parents to do so! Sorry you had to lose your goggles, it is unfair.

Answer 5

No, I don't think you should have let her keep them. It was good that you confronted her, even if she didn't mean to steal them. However, if she did it intentionally she should not get away with it even if she does start crying. Children need to learn that they cannot cry to get what they want especially if they are doing something they know is wrong such as stealing. By the age of 9, all children should know that stealing is wrong.

Answer 6

OK...I agree with the majority of people but I would have found her parents and asked them if she had a pair of goggles because that would have caused her to have to deal with it rather than just guilt you out. If you are ever going to have children of your own...PLEASE do not give them what they want just cuz they cry. I deal with those kids and they are pains in the butt and no one likes them.

Answer 7

No, you shouldn't have let her keep them. At age nine, she is old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. She lied to try to keep them, and when that didn't work she had a temper tantrum to get her way. You should have taken them and told her that it is wrong to keep things that belong to other people, and how would she feel if she were you. I shudder to think how her parents are raising her if at age nine she still doesn't consider other people's feelings.

Answer 8

See you should not have given it to the girl, now the girl will think that this is a right way to get things easily from others, actually she is wrong. I think you should have solved this situation this way, you should not have given your googles, you should have strictly told her, it is not right to take others things. Even though see feels bad, this would have been a good lesson for that girl. Stealing is not a good thing, if the girl has asked your googles to you, then you could have given it to her.

Answer 9

I dont think so...she needs to know that stealing isnt right, i dont care if she pitched a fit. Yeah it might have been a little embarrassing and everything but hey, gotta do what u gotta do. U should have probably told the parents as well so they know that their kid steals things, because honestly it will probably only get worse.

Answer 10

Allowing her to keep the goggles was not the right thing to do. By doing so, you reinforced her stealing them, you pretty much let her know that "Hey, it's okay that you stole them..."

Answer 11

tell the mom a sob story: you cant afford other goggles, those were your favourite, act a lot younger, seem innocent, fake cry, and say "i'm really embarrased to ask this, but i can get emotional easily, and, well, your daughter took my googles several days ago, and, i mean, i just felt so bad because i really wanted them back, but i let her keep them because she started crying, and yet, i was too. (very dramatically, lol) I know i let her have them, but, well, i just need them and i cant afford any others!" Gets them everytime, hehehe.