How would you react if your child asked for a ?

I've got three children and been a mom for over 8 years now and this has never happened. Yesterday my oldest daughter, who is 8 was acting like something was wrong with her. Finally I sat her down and asked her what was bothering her. She told me she had stolen money out of my purse, when we were at the store. She told me she felt bad, and knew she deserved to get a and just wanted to get it over with. I did not know what to do really, on one hand I know it took a lot for her to admit what she had done to me, but on the other hand stealing is a biggie and needs to be punished as such. The first thing I did was tell her I was proud of her for being honest but disappointed about what she had done. Me and her dad had a talk with her, and I decided to go ahead and give her the ing. Not becasue she had asked for it, but that would of been the punishment for stealing anyways. In a way I think she thought if she asked for a , she would not get one. She was taken to her room and given a six swat for what she had done. I ended it by reinforcing she did the right thing by telling us, but telling us did not erase the fact that she had to be punished for doing wrong. What would you do if your child asked for a ing?