I caught my son red-handed at about 6.30 this morning, with a jelly sweet he "pinched" from the fridge. When he saw me he immediately tried to hide it but I could see he was up to something. I reached for his hand and the empty packet was there. He instantly started saying "I was naughty, I'm sorry Mom". He started crying and tried to hug me. He kept saying sorry but I just sent him to his room. He left for school a short while later and I was just too shocked to punish him. Will it be too late to punish him when he gets home from school? I am thinking of taking away all his after dinner treats for the rest of the week.

I know children do stuff like this. I know I did as a kid. But I still feel so hurt by it. I really do. It was dishonest, a form of lying and stealing. I don't know how to accept his apology without him thinking 'cool, that is that!'

My son uses the word sorry too easily. He thinks it will get him off the hook and then he can just do it again.

I can't believe an 8 year old has me feeling so betrayed. It was just a jelly sweet.