Mum made son wear 'I'm a thief' signboad on pubilc

A MUM has ignited a national debate after making her 10-year-old son stand in a busy park wearing a sign saying, "Do not trust me. I will steal from you as I am a thief".
The mother, who confessed to having a criminal past when she was young, said it was to ensure he did not follow in her footsteps.
"I have lived a life that most people would not dream of and I am trying to stop my child from going down the same road as I did, because even though I have sorted myself out, it took me 10 years to do," said the single mother of three children.
The woman said she had tried everything to stop her son shoplifting and stealing - visits to courthouses, chats with police, visits to police cells and even a trip to a youth detention centre.
Finding a stash of chocolates in her son's drawer after a trip to the corner shop to buy milk last week was the last straw.
"I have put him into courses, I have had counselling done, I have done everything I can," she said.
"I think he has learnt his lesson. I think that hour (in the park) is enough for him to go: 'I don't ever want to do this again'.
"I did the same thing as my son, shoplifting as a teenager, and then it escalated because I didn't have a mum there to teach me right from wrong."
The woman said her son had been stealing since he was seven.
The mum's actions made headlines, becoming the No.1 story on websites and dominating talkback radio from Melbourne to Townsville, where the family live.
Her parenting style simultaneously appalled and inspired parents around the nation.
A surprisingly large number of people praised her and called for the cane to be reintroduced. Many also sympathised with her.
But Queensland University parenting director Prof Matt Sanders said the "shame and humiliation" approach was unlikely to have the desired effect.
"There's almost no evidence that I'm aware of that this kind of shame and humiliation approach to kids is effective, and it can very easily backfire,"

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Posted: at 24-08-2011 09:02 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Wow, never heard of this kind of style, How embarrassing though! I think she shouldn't have done that. It really could backfire. Well, to each his/her own. Just hope the desired effect is achieved.

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Posted: at 26-08-2011 12:55 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac