Monday, May 21, 2007
Negotiating
On Sunday Nora was changing out the sheets in Pierce’s room and asked him to help her. He politely demurred, claiming he wanted to play instead. Nora, not to be defeated so easily, offered him 50 cents to stay and help. I could hear here instructing him on how to tuck the sheets under the mattress, they both seemed to be enjoying the experience. When they finished Pierce asked, “you’re not really going to pay me, are you?”. Nora insisted that she would, and ultimately did pay him around bedtime.
That evening, after dinner, we tried to sit down to have a little family TV time. A failed attempt due to the number of matchbox cars Pierce had stacked all over the furniture. I asked Pierce to put away all the toys and Pierce made a quick attempt to clear the sofas. As soon as he finished he plopped into the loveseat and declared we were ready.
I pointed out the additional cars he had missed, spread out over the floor.
Pierce: “Dad, I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Me; “No son, please do it now.”
Pierce: “Dad, I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll give you fifty cents if I can do it tomorrow.”
Nice try; I had him clean them up anyway.
-Eric (Dad)
That evening, after dinner, we tried to sit down to have a little family TV time. A failed attempt due to the number of matchbox cars Pierce had stacked all over the furniture. I asked Pierce to put away all the toys and Pierce made a quick attempt to clear the sofas. As soon as he finished he plopped into the loveseat and declared we were ready.
I pointed out the additional cars he had missed, spread out over the floor.
Pierce: “Dad, I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Me; “No son, please do it now.”
Pierce: “Dad, I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll give you fifty cents if I can do it tomorrow.”
Nice try; I had him clean them up anyway.
-Eric (Dad)
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