(Evidently.)
At least this year.
And it's probably all my greedy fault.
When I was a kid, to motivate us to read we got paid a penny a page.
Back-rubs and *shudder* foot-rubs cost my dad at least .50 cents.
Then there was always selling Bird Whistles at the 4th of July parade and lemonade stands the rest of the summer to earn money.
As I got older, I got paid for extra work around the house and yard, for filing at my dads office ($5/hour), and for babysitting. ($1-2/hour--Per kid, if I was lucky.)
When I turned 15, I got a job at the only fast food place in town that would hire a 15 year old: KFC. I would come home with my hair and clothing reeking of grease, but MAN did I love that pay check.
My point here is, I'm highly motivated to earn money. Always have been. And it looks like my kids will be too.
I asked Max if he'd go off of candy for one year for $100. He immediately agreed. And we're talking about a boy who really, REALLY loves candy.
(In High School I went off Chocolate, Candy, and Gum for one year to earn $150.)
Later, we amended the rules a bit and he signed a contract stating that for every month he goes without candy, he can earn $10. That way, there's still some wiggle room but even greater earning potential. (He's planning to buy a Wii.)
Then Doug wanted in on action. Not for himself, for me. He's already bribed me to read my scriptures every day for a year by offering a lap top. (Done and done!) Now he's offered me $300 to give up ice cream for a year and the Eva Zeisel gift of my choice
if I exercise twice a week until Mother's Day!
Of course, I agreed to both.
(Though I do wonder why I now have to earn my Mother's Day gifts and I DID tell him I'll never exercise again after Mother's Day. Just out of spite.)
So I don't know if this all is quite in the spirit of the New Year's Resolution, but I do know that this method is much much more successful!
And you can't argue with results.
Happy New Year!
