Yesterday I took the boys to my niece's birthday party. It was a swimming party and Son No. 1 and No. 2 were super excited to be hanging out in a pool for a few hours.
Turns out the pool had a three story slide. Both boys were adamant they wouldn't be going on it.
*sigh*
I'm sighing because I've been through this before....numeorus times. They're all "I'm not doing it, it's too scary" or "I don't want to do it because I don't like it". You know, even though they wouldn't know they don't like it because they've NEVER TRIED IT.
After they announced they weren't trying the slide, I got to work, preying on their strengths and weaknesses.
First in line was Son No. 1. I called him over and told him I thought not going on the slide would be one of those things he would regret if he didn't try it. This strategy often works with him, appealing to his logical nature.
No go.
Then I called over Son No. 2. He normally doesn't like to be out done so I pointed out the other kid his age going down the slide and how he looked like he was having a great time.
Nadda.
Then I asked Son No. 2 if he would go down if Son No. 1 did. This got a head nod, so I sent him back to play and called Son No. 1 back over to work on his logical nature again.
The kid was not having it.
And quite frankly, it was DRIVING ME CRAZY because I knew if they went down once, they'd love it.
After a few back and forths with both boys not budging on their no-slide stance, I called them both over and simply said "The first one to go down the slide gets ten dollars, the second will get five" and left it at that.
My sister-in-law was just about peeing herself laughing.
Three minutes later, both boys headed up the 70 steps to go down the slide.
And guess how they spent the rest of the time at the pool.
*Rolls eyes*
So yes, I bribed my kids. Maybe it was wrong, maybe the end result justified the means or maybe it didn't.
But I left the pool with two boys who had a greater confidence in their abilities.
Money well spent I say.
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