Child arrested for open Christmas gifts early

[reviewer]

What is the penalty for opening your Christmas presents too early?

For one South Carolina 12-year-old, the penalty was arrest.

Rest of article here.

[baking23]

I read about this the other day and was appalled, can't the mom ask a school in the area for help? Who would actually arrest teh kid, instead of mediate anyway?

[poundwise]

I think you have to consider the situation in total. The article states, in addition to the fact that he initially lied about the 'missing' gift:

"(she) has been struggling with constant behavior problems from the boy. She said her son still showed no remorse when the police came.

She said he has shoplifted, stolen money from her, punched a police officer and is nearing expulsion from school. She told the paper that she hopes this arrest will be a wake-up call for her son, because she worries about getting a call someday telling her he's been killed."

I say, "Bravo!"

[rduell]

Originally Posted by poundwise

I think you have to consider the situation in total. The article states, in addition to the fact that he initially lied about the 'missing' gift:

I say, "Bravo!"

I agree. It sounds like this kid was headed for serious trouble, and he's only 12! It seems extreme, but some kids need that to see that their behavior has consequences.

We live in PA but get the Buffalo TV stations and they just had an 18-year old that shot 2 police officers a couple of days ago. One is out of the hospital but his partner is still in critical condition. He shot both of them in the face. His mother has said that he's been in constant trouble and there was nothing they could do.

Maybe early intervention will help keep this child out of jail for something more serious or life-threatening.

[Broken Arrow]

I agree with Poundwise in that the kid didn't get "arrested" for just opening a Christmas present. He already has a history of juvenile delinquency and refuses to turn around.

However, I actually doubt that he was arrested for real. It sounds more like a a parent consented juvenile detention masquerading as a real arrest? If so, it's not as bad as it may seem, and more importantly, the teen will hopefully be scared straight from now on.

Just... thinking out loud.

[PrincessPerky]

So silly question...while I do agree the kid seemed to have troubles...do you really leave the presents wrapped under a tree in plain view? isn't that a bit sadist? I don't even know where my stuff is and I am an adult! I know of some hiding places but nothing is staring me in the face saying "common you know you want this.."

Pandoras box...bit rude I think.

[Thrifty Ray]

If he is behaving like this at 12, I can only imagine what he will do at 14, 16, 18... It is hard to break bad behavior when it gets to this age...but harder still as the child gets older.

I would recommend counseling for the boy and the mom to determine what can be done/ changed to turn the boys behavior around.

A conviction? well, to me that seems harsh unless mom's exhausted her other options...Sounds like son needs structure, positive role models and lots of interaction and discussions....

Dr. Phil, perhaps?

[rduell]

We've always wrapped our gifts and left them under the tree until Christmas morning. Never thought of doing otherwise.

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by rduell

We've always wrapped our gifts and left them under the tree until Christmas morning. Never thought of doing otherwise.

Then I might get arrested in your house!

[MairGrif]

In another article I read, the gift was hidden, and he went and searched for it. If this was the only thing, like others said, I doubt she would have taken it that far. He's clearly troubled and needs help. In my family, if you found your gifts, and Mom and Dad discovered that, the penalty was that you did not get your gift! My grandparents did this one year - the kids found the gifts, and on Christmas morning, they were suprised to find none of the gifts they thought they were getting. They had all been returned and exchanged for other items. My mother has threatened similar, but never used it that I know of. Our gifts never got put out until the night before, except for a few presents for others or the like.

[crazyBMB]

Sounds to me that the child needs a bit of counseling from a professional .

[mom-from-missouri]

Maybe some counseling from an old fashioned wooden paddle...

[Snoopy2645]

Well also consider the mom is 27 with a 12 yr old?? She had him when she was 15 not saying thats the whole problem but seems kinda young to me and our kids have a tendency do to what we do right?? Also like other stated maybe thier is alot more to it like the other things listed maybe this is the straw that broke the camels back!!!

[outlawsister1973]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

So silly question...while I do agree the kid seemed to have troubles...do you really leave the presents wrapped under a tree in plain view? isn't that a bit sadist? I don't even know where my stuff is and I am an adult! I know of some hiding places but nothing is staring me in the face saying "common you know you want this.."

Pandoras box...bit rude I think.

I agree. And if the parent was really concerned about this child's behavior, why didn't she have him arrested for the other bad behavior like shoplifting etc.... It makes no sense that he would get into this much trouble for opening a flippin Christmas gift early. Apparently, she wasn't too worried about his thieving ways if she actually left the gifts out in the first place.