One of my kid’s classmates got sent to jail the other day

Four year olds aren’t the most accurate reporters of what passes for news. So when word trickled down that J. went to jail the other day, some moms wanted to know what really happened.

Apparently J, a smart, sweet, well-liked member of the three year old class, is a bit of a klepto. He steals. And it’s not just a matter of, “Oh, isn’t that cute, he doesn’t want to let go of that toy, he wants to take it home”. Nope, this kid goes through purses. When he’s caught, he laughs and says it doesn’t matter: “I’m just a kid. They don’t put kids in jail.”

Ahem. Officer Friendly, a retired police officer who volunteers at the school, came in to make a presentation to J about the dangers of stealing and behaving in a manner that is harmful to society. Suffice to say, all the kids were rather impressed, and I do believe even J has learned to keep his sticky fingers to himself.

But could you imagine? A four year old who already believes himself to be above the law, in a city where too many of our youth are running in gangs, running drugs, or just running wild? Oh my.

Thank you, Officer Friendly.

Tags: honesty, theft, stealing, lying, kids, motherhood, mothering, mommy