• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Sum Girls Boutique
  • “SUM” Services
  • Subscribe
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • youtube
    • snapchat

Dim Sum and Doughnuts

A little SUMthing about growing up, making mistakes and happy endings.

How To Bribe Your Kid

February 9, 2011

My daughter, Sweet Pea (3-1/2) is really mean to my other daughter, Lovey (18 months). I know that Sweet Pea loves her little sister; I also know that siblings antagonize each other, but one night, in the car, Sweet Pea’s outright contempt for Lovey got to the point where I could see it possibly doing some real damage down the road.

Sweet Pea: Mommy, daddy–daddy, mommy?

Us: Yes?

Sweet Pea leans forward as much as she can in her car seat and says in a very soft,  conspiratorial voice just above a whisper: Let’s pretend Lovey isn’t here.

(GASP!!) Poor Lovey!! HOW MEAN IS THAT? I mean, it’s funny, but still, it’s mean.

And little Lovey! I looked in the back seat and there was Lovey. So cute and so sweet just sitting there in her car seat, kicking her chubby legs, smiling and nodding, completely and utterly oblivious to the mean comment that is just one on a long list of many mean comments coming from her sister as of late–comments that could very well make her feel bad, if she actually understood a word of English.

I thought to myself: If we don’t get this under control, it’s only going to get worse and pretty soon Lovey will understand what Sweet Pea is saying…and one day, probably in college, we’ll get a call that Lovey is on the top of the building with a shot gun (but not our shot gun because really, what Jewish person has a shot gun?) yelling: “Sweet Pea was mean to me when I was little and now I’ll never have the confidence to go after the good guys, and I’ll always settle for being the bootie call, and my mom could have done something, but she SUCKS!!!”

So, here’s what I did (and it worked AND it cost less than 5.00!)

I asked Sweet Pea what she wanted more than anything in the world: A Snow White costume. Shocker. Fine. No problem…but she had to earn it.

We went to the store and we looked for Disney stickers and poster board. I let her pick out any color poster board she wanted. She picked blue. It was .69 (I only remember that because I’m really immature). We already had markers at home so we were ready to rock. Side note: If you don’t already have markers at home, you’re pretty much already failing as parent.

When Sweet Pea went to bed that night, I decorated the poster board with the Disney stickers and, using the markers, I made a path that mapped out “The Road to Snow White” (This is the part where you are probably rolling your eyes and mumbling to yourself, “This isn’t new. I’ve done this before, whatever with her!” But listen–I told you I was going to “Jessica Seinfeld” the hell out of this blog in my very first post, so you were warned, so whatever with YOU).

The next morning, Sweet Pea was all excited when she saw my very beautifully decorated poster board and we went over the rules: If you’re nice to your sister, you move up the road. If you’re mean, you move back. The object is to get to end. That’s how you’ll get your Snow White costume. I found a Snow White magnet lying around so that is what I used as the “mover piece.” Sweet Pea wanted that Snow White costume BAD so she was ready to play.

Thankfully, she messed up quite a bit in the beginning because I still needed some time to actually acquire the costume. The whole process took about a month and it actually worked out very well. In fact, towards the end, we sometimes forgot all about our original motive of Sweet Pea being nice to Lovey and just started arbitrarily moving the magnet mover piece back whenever she pissed us off, and moving it forward whenever she didn’t.

And then when Sweet Pea made it to the end of the Snow White path, my girlfriend, Busy, had a Snow White costume that her daughter grew out of so I got the prize for FREE!!  Sweet Pea was beyond excited to get her Snow White costume, and she genuinely earned it. We were very proud of her, she was proud of herself and quite unexpectedly, in the days since the poster board has been put away, it has become almost habit for Sweet Pea to continue being nice to Lovey… at least when I’m looking.

 

 

************************************

Thanks for being here!

Facebook : DimSumandDoughnuts

Twitter: RobynCoden

Instagram: dimsumanddoughnuts

 ds grey background

Related posts:

Why Are My Kids Spoiled Brats?
Not Everybody Is Going To Like You
Why My Kids Are Going To End Up In Therapy
Do The Right Thing

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Parenthood & Parenting Tips Tagged With: kids, motivational games

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JMM says

    February 9, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    My comment of this morning didn't post, so I'm going to try again… comments are oh-so-important!

    When I was potty training, I got a penny for the gumball machine which was not-so-conveniently and very grossly located way above me head in the bathroom. I know it worked. In fact it worked so well that I have a bit of a candy issue as an adult and feel I always deserve a treat when ever I do something "good".

    I'm certain that this Princess costume will only be the beginning of Sweet Pea's clothing crisis and (she is after all your kiddo, but if with that fabu wardrobe comes a loving sister who shares her clothes – who cares, right?

  2. sara says

    February 9, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    I must be a lame parent, never thought of that. I'm so using that on Corey. (obviuously with something other than a princess costume). I've just been "threatening" to take a quarter away from him every time he wishes death upon his younger brother. Thank you!

  3. Gina B says

    February 10, 2011 at 1:45 am

    thank you for being such a cool and smart set of parents.. oh, what i will be learning from Dim Sum and Doughnuts! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

  4. milly says

    February 10, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    well done, sista

  5. Jessica says

    February 11, 2011 at 9:23 am

    Love the name of your blog!

  6. SusanneP says

    February 28, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    You are something else Robin I'm so impressed you go girl!!!

Primary Sidebar

heading-about Dim Sum and Doughnuts
heading-subscribe

heading-categories
  • Parenthood & Parenting Tips
  • Camp Life
  • Adoption
  • Rants
  • Marriage & Family
  • Friendship
  • You’re Not Alone
  • Mailbag Monday!
  • Sum Of This, Sum Of That
  • 20 SUMthings
  • Dogs Rule
  • Relationships
  • Guest Post

heading-instagram

Before we opened, lots of people questioned why on Before we opened, lots of people questioned why on earth I’d “want to open a brick and mortar when everyone just shops online...?” 
⭐️
But you know what? SUM people like to shop in real life. They like to touch and try on. They like to be surrounded by good vibes and make memories. It’s good to get out, check out, and log off for a bit. 
⭐️
I’m not saying “Don’t shop online.” I’m just saying it’s also nice to add in another element. Small businesses are SUPER COOL and special — and I promise you, if they’re in business right now, it’s because they’re working super hard to keep their doors open. I have also been putting in the work, and I am feeling so grateful for the stellar group of customers, businesses and friends that support us and all we are trying to do. 
⭐️
Thank you @feministmomming for doing a spotlight on @dimsumanddoughnuts and @sumgirlsboutique and for reminding me how special my family, our brand, and our support system are to us. We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives and on our ride. 🙏 #SupportLocal #ShopSmall and Come Get SUM soon! 💜 #SumGirlsBoutique 
_______________________________
👗👚👖 Trendy, Sustainable Fashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens * Teens * Ladies in #BerkleyMi
Challenge Accepted @poesygallery @moe_z_arts @shan Challenge Accepted @poesygallery @moe_z_arts @shan809 @debfuger @lmk126 @dianna.feldman 💜 Trying hard every day to build our brand so women and girls have a place to feel good about themselves and have SUM fun! So lucky to be surrounded by so many strong, amazing women who support me no matter what I do. 🙏💜 @sumgirlsboutique @dimsumanddoughnuts #womensupportingwomen
On Sat, March 28, 2020 our daughter’s dream came On Sat, March 28, 2020 our daughter’s dream came true ⭐️ •
•••••
Instead of having her Bat Mitzvah service in the Rabbi’s Study, family only (which was still more people than she wanted) she got to have it at home with just us! 🎉 •
•••••
Frankie will forever be the first person EVER from the congregation of #TempleBethEl to be Bat Mitzvah’d via #ZOOM in the comfort of her own home! Dress Code: #QuarantineCasual.👌🏻 •
•••••
It was the most incredible experience for our family, including #BrunoMarshall 🐾, and we couldn’t be prouder of our amazing daughter. ❤️🙏 •
•••••
#DimSumAndDoughnuts 
#GrowingUp 
#QuarantineBatMitzvah #wehadatorahinourhouse
In the midst of the COVID-19 yuckiness and all the In the midst of the COVID-19 yuckiness and all the crap it has thrown at our family (and so many others), it’s still #GotchaDay and it needs to be celebrated! 🎉 12 years this diva has been with us and we love her more every day. ❤️ 🥘 🍩 @DimSumAndDoughnuts • @sumgirlsboutique #daughterlove #daughterlife #adoptionday
#NationalAdoptionMonth, yo! 🙌🏻 If you are ad #NationalAdoptionMonth, yo! 🙌🏻 If you are adopted or have an adopted kid, take 20% OFF any one regularly priced item @sumgirlsboutique on Sat, Nov 23 cuz #adoptionrocks! 🎸 ❤️ •
•
#SumGirlsBoutique • Trendy, Current, #SustainableFashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens, Teens & Ladies of all Ages in #downtownberkley
#internationaldayofthegirl is a day to promote the #internationaldayofthegirl is a day to promote the empowerment of young girls everywhere-but we try to do that everyday @sumgirlsboutique! 💜⭐️ 💪🏻 Come see us and Come Get SUM sooooon! •
•
Trendy, Current, #SustainableFashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens, Teens & Ladies of all Ages in #DowntownBerkley💜@dimsumanddoughnuts
Did not know about #NationalDaughtersDay until it Did not know about #NationalDaughtersDay until it was too late, but I did write a blog post for those divas and it took me a YEAR and I hope they appreciate it one day! 😜😜 #DontBeStupid #mothersanddaughters #growingup  #DimSumAndDoughnuts #sumgirlsboutique •
•
Blog Post link in bio (It’s a gooooood one!)
Photo Cred @mikemoy
Happy #NationalDogDay from this handSUM guy! 💜 Happy #NationalDogDay from this handSUM guy! 💜 #BrunoMarshall #BlackLabs #LoveForDogs
One night only! We were all together, and now they One night only! We were all together, and now they’re all gone... 😢Cody and #BrunoMarshall came to get the divas, and now they’re #camptanuga bound! Bring on the magic • 2019 ❤️🌈⛺️#tanugamagic #tanuga #campwifelife
These two came home from NYC with two new loves: # These two came home from NYC with two new loves: #governorsisland and #pokernight - and the most love for their Uncle D 💛 @dstortion #BKgirls #DimSumAndDoughnuts / @sumgirlsboutique
#BrownAndWhiteStripes in our hearts and home and c #BrownAndWhiteStripes in our hearts and home and closets forever. ❤️ #DimSumAndDoughnuts #gonebutneverforgotten #henribendel #bendelgirlsforlife #bendelgirls | @henribendel @dimsumanddoughnuts
@dimsumanddoughnuts divas #BehindTheScenes at @sum @dimsumanddoughnuts divas #BehindTheScenes at @sumgirlsboutique 💕 @mphmarketingsolutions #DowntownBerkley
So happy we got to be a part of this amazing story So happy we got to be a part of this amazing story and that we are teamed up with the #DrewTransitionCenter in #Detroit! ❤️#SumGirlsBoutique #DimSumAndDoughnuts 
#EmpowerPotential #Confidence #Support #Smiles / @dimsumanddoughnuts
#NationalAdoptionDay 💜 #NationalAdoptionDay 💜
#HappyHalloween from #johnandyoko ❤️🎃👻 #HappyHalloween from #johnandyoko ❤️🎃👻
Late to the party, as usual. I missed #nationaldau Late to the party, as usual. I missed #nationaldaughtersday but these divas are getting a whole blog written for them one day so I don’t feel that guilty! @dimsumanddoughnuts #daughters #sisters #momlife #momblog #dimsumanddoughnuts
Follow on Instagram

heading-find-us-on-facebook
heading-recent-posts

Mona

June 30, 2020

The Eyedeegafs

April 16, 2020

Don’t Be Stupid, Part 2

August 8, 2019

Don’t Be Stupid

August 15, 2018

links

  • Adoptimist.com
heading-connect
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Snapchat
headeing-advertise
MPH Marketing Solutions In Berkley, MI
funky-frog-boutique
camp-tanuge
pronto
Kay_Bratt
 

Copyright © 2021 Dim Sum and Doughnuts

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.