Carrots and Sticks, the new-fashioned way

Yesterday morning for the third time in 4 weeks, we the Godfreys woke up collectively 15 minutes before the bus.

This is not a habit conducive to proper teeth-brushing or allowing time for a Healthy Breakfast. However, my kids made the bus! This is nearly a miracle, since Mugsy is the s l o w e s t human being on the planet. But it proves that we have moved past the mantra of the first two weeks of school, "I don't want to go." and the foregone conclusion that school is required has been ingested by my defiant & stubborn (ie. Like Her Father) girl.

Carrots and Sticks. Rewards and Punishments. It's all my life is about currently. I'm attempting to train these wild-beast children to be productive members of society, but most of the time I just end up yelling, screaming and going through all sorts of machinations just to get them to HEAR what I'm saying, much less minding. 

To reward the marvelous feats of the morning (and because we had leftover tokens & tickets from the hellish School Nite last week), I took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese after school. I spent three dollars & gave them the time of their lives. They barely complained & were quickly obedient during the whole endevour, proving that they did indeed deserve a reward for making the bus this morning. I explained that reward will not be available often, but it was fun to give them a Carrot instead of the Sticks I'm usually doling out.

I Win!! Hurray!

Of course, their good behavior was short-lived. Does anyone else have to punish their children for fighting over who gets to PRAY at dinner time? Nope? I didn't think so. Just me, what with my feral children & all.