Candy Canes & Lolly Pops

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Candy Canes & Lolly Pops
4
Thu, 12-07-2006 - 1:27am

When my kids were younger I used to bribe them. yes i'm guilty of that. i used to tell them if you clean up those toys then you can have a cookie. up until recently (i haven't tried it in a while i kind of forgot about it) if i had a box of chocolate covered cherries i brought into the house i'd see my teens face light up and say oooo can i have on and i'd say do your chore first. they would do them and then come and say ok it's done can i have one and they would get a chocolate covered cherrie or what ever treat i had. for the last 6 months or so i kinda got away from that.

Yesterday we took my 12 year old almost 13 shopping for shoes and everywhere we went she didn't like them sooooo after many stores with dh an 11 year old boy and a 9 year old girl and this dd we got frustrated angry and just gave up. we bought her a simple pair of black shoes that cost $3.50 and said here you can where these for your concert and if you don't where them again no biggie, She of course acted out and was acting like a 13 year old and pitching her fit and saying i'm not wearing those. well we get to the register and dh grabs two packs of candy and puts them on the belt. i looked at him because we havne't been buying treats and he said for G & Z but D the 13 year old shoe shopper didn't get the treat and he wanted her to see that see you act up you don't get a reward.

well to make a longer story short today i bought a box of candy canes and you would have thought I walked in the door with a bag full of gold. everyone is asking for a candy cane. I told them after your homework is done and your chores are done you can have a candy cane. boy was i amazed to see how fast the homework got done with out the wining crying and fits. their room wasn't perfect but they did make an effort and they got their candy cane. Well the two older ones A 15 and E almost 17 came out and i could tell they were eyeing that box of candy canes. well when they got home from school they stayed in their room sleeping and listening to their radio. they didn't ask for a candy cane lol. but after we got back from my dd's concert the dishes were done (E's job) and i was amazed. she didn't ask me for the candy cane (she still isn't talking to me) but she did ask her dad. I had the candy canes hidden and he told her she would have to go and ask me. but she still isn't talking to me so she didn't come and ask and she didn't get her candy cane lol but it looks like things may be calming down just a tad so i'll keep buying those candy canes and lolly pops (they love blow pops and charms pops) and see if i can keep using them as bribes. oh and the chocolate covered cherries are back at the dollar store so i'm going to stock up on those.

So maybe sometimes a bribe will work.

Libby

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2005
Thu, 12-07-2006 - 10:25am

Libby,


Your post made me laugh. It is sad but true, but you have to know what works for your kids and use it, but not all the time or they expect it and start to get sloppy with the chores and homework and expect it every day nevertheless. That's just my experience.


Hugs,

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Amanda

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
Thu, 12-07-2006 - 3:33pm

Hey Libby,


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Thu, 12-07-2006 - 10:26pm

but not all the time or they expect it and start to get sloppy with the chores and homework and expect it every day nevertheless. That's just my experience.

I think so too. I think that is why we kind of got away from doing it. but now tht they haven't had those bribes in a while i'll try them again. Tonight I told them that our favorite pizza place is having a "pizza with santa day" it is the manager the one they call uncle dave that is santa and i told them if their room was kept clean their homework was done and the additudes were good that we would go. it's next wednesday. My two older ones the 15 and 17 heard me and i know they like this place because it's all teenage guys who work there and some of them they go to school with and my 17 year old has a crush on one of them. they heard me saying it but they didn't respond or ask to go so we'll see what happens between now and next wednesday.

Libby

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Thu, 12-07-2006 - 10:28pm

"She who holds the candy has the power!" LOL! Hugs, Lori

Oh i love that. I wonder how I would even go about doing that. i'd love to have one of those or one that says "if mom aint happy nobodys happy" hehe

Libby