Kids do that because "we" do that to them....from the time they are born, we love our children so much that
each and everytime they do something right we have done what every parent in the world has done...pat them
on the head, tell them they did good, love them, congratulate them...as every normal parent has done. Children are conditioned
from the day they are born "if you do something right" you are rewarded for your efforts. From the time they are in our hands to the time
enter school the reward program comes into play---did good on a paper--get a gold star, sit quietly in class--get 10 more minutes
during recess, be good over at Ma Maws--we will stop for ice cream, I could go on and on.... I've thought about that alot,
I've been thru it with 3 kiddos, and I must admit I am to blame for alot of the "rewards" my children seek....All their
life if they did everything, there was a reward for doing so...I think as they get older it becomes harder on us because
the rewards in life become larger, with the child spreading her/his wings and wanting to grow and the seriousness of
becoming an adult comes into play and we as adults don't see that quite as well. We see that it just becomes more expensive
and the awards for "doing good" are harder for us to provide. But there are certain things like the horses that I have never
quit offering to my kids, or anything else that would teach responsibility as well. The eventual reward she will receive in
the end and the responsibility she is willing to take on with her new project will certainly be well worth it in the end. I think kids
see it as well..."without the reward, where's the incentive?"....There concept really isn't too different than ours either--we go to work, and
we have nice things...We do everything right, we expect our rewards too.
Heck I still offer the "reward" program to my 21 yr old at UT!! So don't worry about her, and keep parenting---sounds like
the norm to me and you are doing a great job.
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