In a couple days, it will have been a week since the “Cookie Theft Incident of 2026,” and we have been talking about how to gradually reintroduce some privileges back for the last couple weeks of his stay. Until last week, my wife had typically been the “good cop,” but after the boundary crossing and subsequent loss of trust, she has stepped back from that. Talking yesterday, we decided that she would sit him down today to talk to him about behavior versus identity.
He’s a smart kid, but his intelligence is being used to be sneaky rather than working smarter. His behavior (currently) is that of a liar and thief but does not need to become his identity – though with as many bridges he’s burned, it may be a bit of a tough pit to climb out of. Because of his behavior, people will make assumptions about his identity, but it will be up to him to prove them wrong.
I spoke to a friend of mine who is a mother of three as well as a parent to step-children for a bit of advice today. She seemed to agree with the strategy we had discussed but strongly suggested that we stick to our guns on the punishments so he isn’t trained that he can get off restrictions by by making it uncomfortable for the adults.
So that’s where we are at right now – my wife had the conversation with him over breakfast and it seems he took it to heart. My mother sent some books that arrived today so there is something he knows about and wants so perhaps that can be something he works towards in the last couple weeks he’s here…
Song of the day: Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
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