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Monday, March 26, 2007

The Suit

As soon as my older son (OS) sat down at the table for breakfast, I knew I was in for a long day. Today was a "towel" day. What the heck is that? That's when for no apparent reason my son decides to wear a dish towel on his head and pretend it's his hair. Maybe I should start a meme on unique things (read strange) that your child does. One time I called the "hair" a dish towel and deeply regretted it. (He got really mad.) Anyhow, before today it's always been a certain yellow dish towel that we have. However, today the yellow dish towel was nowhere in sight, so he grabbed a ratty old dish towel that we found under our sink when we moved into our house (two years before OS was born) but that pathetically we use all the time.

My younger son (YS), OS, OS's "hair", and I all went to music class. There was a bit of a crisis when the "hair" fell on the floor when OS tried to put his hood on over it on the way to music class. There was also a smaller crisis when it got caught behind him in his carseat. Abruptly during music class he decided that the towel was no longer hair, but rather a hat. At the end of the class, the "hat" was forgotten, and I managed to smuggle it away. We went home and then ran a bunch of errands and proceeded to have an uneventful afternoon until right before dinner time.

OS is going to be a ring bearer in my BIL's wedding in May. I know OS will love being a ring bearer, but he currently hates wearing anything with buttons. My brilliant plan is to have OS wear a suit that I borrowed from a friend, every day for longer periods of time. When he does it, he gets to pick a prize or a special privilege. This is just like when I was in gym class in high school and we had to build up to running for 45 minutes straight. First we started at 2 minutes, then 5 minutes, etc. While I don't remember getting a prize, I do remember thinking all that additional running (this was during swim season so I was already running as part of my swimming training) earned me tater tots from the cafeteria at lunch. That's a prize in my book!

We started my plan yesterday and although a few tears were initially shed, OS did quite well and was able to pick out a prize. (Okay maybe the prize was a Christmas present that he received that I had put away for a rainy day, but that's just a rumor.) We even emailed a picture of him in his suit to two of his friends that were there when he got the suit.

Right before my husband, the Big Giraffe, came home from work, OS announced that he wanted a prize. I reminded him that he had to wear the suit. He said okay and did it. Who said bribery doesn't work? Afterwards I told him that if he was willing to wear his suit for longer periods of time he could have bigger rewards like going for a walk with daddy and the dog. He liked that idea, but he was more interested in an outing to McDonald's, probably because it was discussed during a recent playdate. I said he could go with daddy if it were okay with the Big Giraffe (I didn't call him that to OS) and if he were willing to wear his suit during the car ride (drive-thru window). Then he could take it off when he got home (there's no way I'm letting him eat a meal in a borrowed suit!)OS was all smiles, even leaving the Big Giraffe a cute gigglimg message that I believe was him making the request. Then it came time to wear the suit. He had a complete and total meltdown. After counting to 2 several times and almost reaching 3 at least twice, he eventually allowed the suit to be worn , and the Big Giraffe reports that he was totally happy, cheerful, and chatty in the car. McDonald's meals were purchased. However, before the next big event, we will have one single rule: no whining. Three strikes and the reward is out. I thought parenting was supposed to be easy!

A. Elliot's Lesson Learned: Sounds ironic, but when using bribery don't give in!

Labels: , ,

posted by Alex Elliot @ 9:48 PM   5 comments
5 Comments:

  • At 3/27/2007 4:47 AM, Blogger soccer mom in denial said…

    What a terrific way to start a morning! Your descriptions were seamless. And the "hair". Oh the "hair".

     

  • At 3/27/2007 8:08 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Wow we are flattered at all the prep going into our wedding. With our plan to serve McDonalds for dinner instead of using a caterer that should help you have a reward ready to go for the big day! :-)
    Big Giraffe's Little Brother

     

  • At 3/27/2007 3:54 PM, Blogger Nancy said…

    Music class? Playgroup? Playdates? Full proof child rearing (bribery) strategies?

    Seriously, you're my Mommy Idol ;)

     

  • At 3/27/2007 8:24 PM, Anonymous Kim said…

    Aren't you glad that your blog exchange partner is such an idiot?
    You can't very well email me if you don't know my email address. It's southernhospitality@comcst.net. Looking forward to hearing from you....

    Kim

     

  • At 3/28/2007 8:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    My ultimatum of the morning to OS when he was trying to raise a ruckus before YS was supposed to be awake..."If you turn that light on or get out of bed again, I am taking your hair." Sounds pretty weird out of context. (Actually it sounds pretty weird in context.)

    -The Big Giraffe

     
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Name:Alex Elliot
Home:MA, United States
About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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