A couple of weeks ago, I asked Rooster to do me a favor and take the paper and plastic stuff I’d been collecting to the recycling center on his way to church.
He fussed and complained loudly, even refusing to do it.
I desperately wanted him to take care of this errand, so I did something smart stupid.
I told him that he could have a “Get Out of a Chore For Free” card…one-time use…that he could pull out any time he wanted.
Silly me thought, a week later while hanging his clothes on the line, that I would count that as the chore.
I.
Can.
Be.
Stupid.
Sometimes.
I would later find out that the task I’d completed for him did not fall within the parameters that I, myself, had created.
Fast forward to today.
Rooster had spent a couple of evenings away, so he had some chores to catch up on.
One of them was these…
First, though, I wanted him to put away the clean dishes in the dishwasher.
Typical of most teenagers, he hemmed and hawed…putting me off all day.
Finally, I demanded that he get the dishes put away so he could start washing the pile above.
That’s when he did something very smart unkind.
He pulled out his “Get Out of a Chore” card.
And he did it with glee…
And a huge, triumphant smile on his face.
Take another look at that picture.
It’s not difficult to believe how annoyed I was.
Parents of young children, you would be wise to take the following advice: Don’t make stupid deals with your children. Sure, you might get what you want in that moment, but believe you me, you WILL pay for your stupidity later.
Forget instant gratification. Keep the future in mind.
You do not want to be scooping poop for a week or washing every dish in the house.
It’s not worth it.
Nor is it fun to be outwitted by an almost 17 year old teenage boy…no matter how stinkin’ cute said boy might be.
Filed under: children | Tagged: childrearing, children, teenagers | 4 Comments »
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