<p>The best thing about the Super Bowl is (are) the commercials! I’d like to tivo it and ff through the game. :D</p>
<p>When my two (2 years 9 months apart) were sort of in the 5-8ish age I finally decided that all my reasonable, let them work it out, set limits, voice of rationality, loving, supporting parenting was Useless and I could no longer stand their fighting. So I told them if they could go a whole month without fighting I would give them a prize. Each of them. Separately. Got a chart. Got gold stars - remember them? The pasting of the stars, the anticipation as the rows of stars began to build, the hasty silencing of any argument as I came round the bend…</p>
<p>Ah. It worked. One of the happiest times of my entire life, that month without kids fighting. Odd too, they never again fought as much. </p>
<p>We will want to hear from TJFH as he moves through his life in this motorcycle halo. But then, we always wanted to hear from him:)</p>
<p>Alu – you reminded me that I told my 8 year old and 13 year old that if they would not fight while their Dad and I went to a movie I would give them each $5.00 . . . Boy a whole month of not fighting would sure be nice . . .</p>
<p>I remember my Dad would bribe each of us us $5 per day to not bug each other when we’d be on a lovely “Family Vacation.” </p>
<p>My son’s GF is an EXCELLENT incentive.</p>
<p>Hmm. GF as incentive. Because your S doesn’t drive yet you control access? Is that what you are telling me:).</p>
<p>And, I got the idea from my dad. There are 4 kids in my family of origin. My dad hated flying. We came from the East Coast. We lived in California. Put all those factors together and you get family trip from hell involving many young children in a station wagon for hours on end. And one day my dad said, if you can make it through one whole day without fighting I will get you a present. Now we were not a deprived set but that was such a novel idea that we all buckled down and succeeded. Surprised the heck out of dad.</p>
<p>Surprised him almost as much as time one of us left our plasticine pancakes on the wheel well in the “way back” of the station wagon when we got out of the car for yet another lunch of hamburgers and milkshakes. In Arizona. In summer…</p>
<p>Remember plasticine? Did anyone else ever read the Ant and Bee books?</p>
<p>Alu, yes-- I loved Ant & Bee!!!</p>
<p>BTW even when he turns sixteen, I will still control the CAR. At least temporarily!</p>
<p>Last weekend, SluggyH and I infiltrated the inner sanctum of what a group of 14-year olds were saying to one another about their parents. As we walked past, we heard one kid say, </p>
<p>“My parents forget about my punishment like 5 minutes after they give it!” followed by chorus of agreement and laughter from the rest of the tribe. </p>
<p>Contrast this to my own parents’ technique of child rearing which can best be described by SNL’s Update Nanny, Barbara Birmingham…</p>
<p><a href=“Saturday Night Live - NBC.com”>Saturday Night Live - NBC.com;
<p>…and her parenting book, I Will Beat Yo Ass. Lololololol! :D</p>
<p>My younger son was doing terribly in Latin. We told him that for every test or quiz over 90 we’d get Chinese food for dinner. (Though not more than once a week.) He was convinced it was impossible, but we worked with him for the first few weeks. He doesn’t get 90s on all his quizzes, but he does manage on some and he’s getting 80s on most of the rest.</p>
<p>LOVE the Update Nanny!</p>
<p>Does anyone remember Kenan Thompson when he was on Nickelodeon on the Kenan and Kel Show? My kids used to love that when they were in grade school. He was pretty funny way back then and he’s hysterical on SNL!</p>
<p>Mathmom,</p>
<p>Why are you all the way across country. S is starting to tutor in Latin to make some college spending money! </p>
<p>My husband has a new way to bribe our S – his favorite band is reuniting and going on tour and guess who is really good friends with their lawyer? Bwahhahah!</p>
<p>So, I remembered that I owed the girls 5.00. Well, the 13 year old took it, but the 8 year old didn’t want it, saying she has too much money already. So, the 13 year old asked if she could have her sister’s money too . . .</p>
<p>Did I mention that the movie we went to see, Pan’s Labyrinth, was based on the 17 year old girl’s recommendation. I told her I wanted to see something that didn’t have murders in it, where no one died at the end. “Oh, that doesn’t happen in that movie” says she. So, as I sit through this incredibly horrifying movie, I’m thinking, well, I won’t tell you what I’m thinking . . .</p>
<p>Anyway, so I ask her, “Why did you do that?” She says, “It is a good movie. And if I had told you the truth, you wouldn’t have gone . . .” She is as happy as the cat who ate the cream that she pulled this over on me.</p>
<p>I read the parenting books, and they don’t cover this stuff. I suspect that while I search in vain on Amazon for “I Will Beat Yo Ass,” my children are studying the bestselling “How to Mess With Yo Parents.”</p>
<p>w00t! The next round’s on me: TSFH received another acceptance today (Fairleigh Dickinson @ Florham), so he’s actually gonna have a choice of colleges! We got any designated drivers here tonight? (Other than all those on motorcycles, that is. 
)</p>
<p>congrats, mootie!! I am trying to hold myself back from saying what we used to call it when I was in college… wait… I can’t stand it… I’m gonna blow… Fairleigh Ridiculous!! Ohh— sorry… I couldnt help myself. I’ll go back under the table where I belong.</p>
<p>Mootmom – WOOT! I will be your designated driver anytime. :). </p>
<p>Jym626 – I assume your college was a rival college?</p>
<p>Hey, I grew up a Jersey Girl, listening to Jean Shepherd in the dark every night on WOR. If he could call it Fairleigh Ridiculous, so can you! :)</p>
<p>Go TSFH!!!</p>
<p>But not too fast on the motorcycle. For him we will just drink motor oil tonight…</p>
<p>Seriously. That is just great.</p>
<p>mstee-
Is Vassar a rival of fairleigh Ridiculous? I dont’ believe so… I guess we were just snooty :D</p>
<p>Can I just butt in here to announce that today is my 25th wedding anniversary! Isn’t that amazing? (And who the hell gets married in February???!!!) :)</p>
<p>Congrats weenie!! Does that mean your buying a round in here today?? :)</p>
<p>What state did you get married in ?(and I mean state of the union, not state of panic).</p>