A 7-year-old stole a trinket because it had no price tag — his mom’s response surprised even the store

Fitness and lifestyle influencer Natalia Loren (@loseitwithnat) showed other parents how to deal with a mischievous child in her latest Instagram and TikTok video. On April 20, she wrote: "You caught your 7-year-old stealing, so you make him return it." Following an authoritative parenting approach with a slightly more stern tone, she asked her son what he had done. Panicking, her son started crying when his mother asked him if he had stolen the item. In the next few seconds, Loren shows how disciplining a child can be done without any punishments.

A teary confession

After asking him repeatedly if he stole it, he finally confessed that he took it from a store because it did not have a price tag on it. Loren told her son it's not okay to just take something from a store without paying for it, so they went back to return it. He was scared and crying the entire time, yelling that he did not want to go to jail. As they entered the store, Loren asked for the manager and explained what her son had done.

Facing the consequences

Loren made sure her son apologized to the store manager, and he explained the reason why he took it. Wanting to correct his mistake, he asked the manager for the price of the item, and she told him he could have it for a dollar. He looked up at his mother and asked if she would give him cash to get it, but she refused. To drive the point home and make her son understand that stealing is wrong, Loren asked the manager if they were going to involve the police. The manager understood the assignment and said that they might. Loren asked her son what he should do next, and he immediately apologized and was forgiven.

25% of shoplifters are teens

Clinical psychologist and author Anthony E. Wolf, who wrote 'Get Out of My Life: But First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall?' said, "An awful lot of kids, boys and girls, ages 12, 13, or 14, even younger, get involved with shoplifting." 1 in 11 Americans, approximately 23 million of the population, have stolen from retail stores. Teenagers account for only 7% of the American population, but according to reports, 25% of shoplifters are teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17. Additionally, 20% of adults who have shoplifted in the past say that they started when they were teenagers. Nancy Gannon, the executive deputy director of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, said that children can be charged with crimes, and stores can sue them if they wish. But most of the time, first-time offenders are usually sent to special teen courts or juvenile committees. Luckily for Natalia Loren's son, the manager decided to forgive the mistake and let him go without involving the police.

People in the comments were impressed with Loren's parenting skills. Many applauded her for not going soft on her son and making sure he understood what he had done. They also commended the store manager, who went along with Loren. @xo.moni_ commented, "I love the worker for going along with it. 'We might, yeah.'" @justus_g1 wrote, "Old school mom here. This is parenting. Mom caught him and corrected the behavior. Her son will remember this, and he will be a great man one day with a mom like this! Great job, mama!"

You can follow Natalia Loren (@loseitwithnat) on Instagram or TikTok for more lifestyle and fitness content.

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