Tuesday, July 1, 2008

All About the Bribes

Yesterday I left swim lessons mad, irritated and well, mad. Greg decided that he was done and threw a major temper tantrum about not getting in the water. So he sat on the side in the dirt picking up ants for the whole lesson while we waited for Graham. I sat calculating money wasted in my head.

Normally it wouldn't be such a big deal but I knew we had 3 more days of this that I have already paid for. I wasn't going to give in. So I bribed him. My kid likes cookies. He likes going inside a certain drink store (that we usually drive through.) With this offer made, he accepted and I let his teacher know about it as well.

And these were the results - sweet.



I'm all for bribes, um, er, I mean rewards.

10 comments:

Heidi Totten said...

I agree 100%.

NatRat said...

Bribes ROCK! I have bribed Cooper, if he will learn to ride his bike I will buy him a pretty good prize...I have to do something, he is almost 7 and still has NO desire to ride a bike.

Kristen said...

Nat - bring him over here to ride with Kate and Graham. Maybe he'll feel a bit competitive and want to ride!

Denise said...

I believe - what ever it takes.

~Denise

Jennifer said...

Bribery is the BEST policy...I use it on my almost 5 year old all the time...on days when I am exhausted I tell her if she will take a nap...then I will take her to Chuck-E-Cheese...works everytime...and sometimes she even forgets what I told her I would do which is even better, lol!

Kitty said...

Dan has to bribe me all the time.
HUGS

kjtroxel said...

Love it! And I do it too. I think it works and its totally a win/win

Anonymous said...

A Moms gotta do what a Moms gotta do. If it means giving cookies so he can learn to save his life one day in the water. By golly give the boy cookies. Did I just say by golly? I have never said that before in my life.. Im aging before my very eye's... Any way... he will thank you one day for those lessons and the cookies. I didnt learn to swim till I was 12 and I still dont care for it much. Fast thinking MOM...smiles, Susie H~

KEYSHA said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has to bribe my children....I think that's what gets me by in life!

(Where's this delicious cookie place....I want a cookie....Maybe I will be naughty so I can deserve one!!!)

Pink in a sea of blue said...

A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do. One day I'm going to write a REAL Mom's handbook and include bribes! We're doing swim lessons this month, too. I can see this happening with #2. I don't forsee 10 days of cooperation either! Good luck with the final lessons.