gold stars

This is meant to be an encouragement to other mothers so if you think I'm better than you, well, you are wrong!

I bribe my children.  I said it.  I do, I pay them for chores, I take them out to lunch and I promise them trips to the frozen treat store of the year down the street (it's been four different ones since we moved in 8 years ago).  I never thought they would start bribing me, but they did.

My eight year old daughter is concerned with fairness, don't worry she knows life isn't fair.  She said one day that it wasn't fair that her brother got paid for chores because he's 4 and she didn't get paid for chores until she was 6.  I made an offhand comment that I don't get paid for anything anymore, unless you count hugs and kisses.  She went away and came back with a plan.

She said that she didn't have enough money to pay me for chores, and it was clear to her that I didn't want money anyway, otherwise I would still be working so she would pay me in gold stars (stickers) and I could use those for things like back rubs, radio time in the car, and other stuff.  I asked her what I could get gold stars for doing, did I get them for dishes, laundry, and sweeping up after my children.  No, I did not.  I got them for these things: 
(list made by my three oldest)

5 stars for a hug
1 star for a real compliment
15 stars for ice cream
20 stars for going out to lunch
100 stars for a field trip
a bazillion stars for playing cars (you can guess who added that one)
5 stars for a good dinner
10 stars for reading a story
15 stars for telling a made up story
20 stars for a story from when you were little (when anyone in the family was little)

Now I know what is important to my children.  I know what matters to them right now and I know what they think they need from me.  I also know that any day I earn a star is a good day.  Also, I need to work with my son on his numerology, but that might wait a few months because it's fun to hear him say "bazillion".

Now, go earn some gold stars people!!