Sweet Motivation

Tonight for homework, John needed to write six to eight sentences about his favorite book. We worked on a rough draft together and when we were happy with it he started to write out the story neatly. He was very discouraged and immediately said "This is going to take forever." I cheered him on and told him to keep writing. He wrote three words and just stopped and stared at the wall. So I went to the cabinet and took out some chocolate chips. I said "Every time you finish a sentence, you can have two chocolate chips." He smiled and said "Yes! That's what I'm talking about!" He wrote the first sentence and then stopped for his chocolate chips. And then the negotiator arrived "What if I write two sentences?" I said "If you write two without stopping then you can have five chips." He smiled and said "I was hoping for four."

He finished his homework in no time and ate his dessert at the same time. 

My Babies' Back

Last week Gillian had a rough week. She had quite a few "accidents" at school. Daddy and I know that these are not accidents and that she is intentionally pooping her pants. In an effort to motivate her to go on the potty like a big girl, we have taken away her favorite toys (her baby dolls). Saturday night after the party, Gillian had her first success! She was able to pick one toy and she got her favorite baby back. She was so happy and so proud.

All day today she played with her baby. She took baby for rides in her stroller and by late morning she had her second success! She ran upstairs to tell Daddy. "Daddy, I get baby back! I go poopy on the potty!" He didn't believe her and asked me to confirm. After I confirmed her statement, Daddy gave her another baby. Gillian found me and said "I get this baby back!" Hopefully we are back on track and we will have no more "accidents" this week.