My Big Fail as a Mom–a Bad Bribe
As a mom, I consider myself above average. I try to raise my children to treat others well, always do their best, contribute to society in a positive way and keep on trying. I’m not saying I’m perfect. Today, I admit I am far from it.
Last night my 5 year old had her first swim meet. Only problem was she didn’t want to do a swim meet–she only wants to go to practices for socializing and seeing her friends. So I told her it was a swim party. And it worked, until we got to the pool (just after a nap I had to wake her up from) and she saw everyone warming up for their competition. She insisted she wasn’t swimming at this party. So the husband sent me off to another area and tried to convince her. Her coach tried to convince her. She didn’t budge, for a good 30 minutes. She missed her team warmup and I started to get desperate.
So I bribed her. Yep, went over and told her I’d buy her a swim contest Barbie. That didn’t do it, and usually Barbie gets her to do anything. And then it hit me. One thing she’s been BEGGING for in the past few weeks is high heels. Yes, my five year old wants high heels. And the stores sell them. And all her friends have them (not all, but many). And I’ve insisted she wasn’t getting them. But last night I caved. Yes, I caved. I bribed my daughter with a pair of high heels AND a Barbie to get in that pool and compete.
And she did it. And she kicked butt. She was so proud when it was done…so happy to get all the way across the pool and even said she wanted to do it again next week! But she also said she couldn’t wait to go get those shoes!
Yikes. I should have known my little fashionista wouldn’t forget. So this morning we went and bought the shoes that I said I’d never buy. And I felt very, very ashamed all the way to the cash register, out the door, and again when I saw her strutting her stuff in those high heels in front of her friends at the tennis courts today. My five year old is too young to be strutting her stuff. But while she walks around with her head held high, mine will be hanging in shame at my big mom fail. Epic, as my 16 year old would say.
Epic fail.
June 24, 2011 @ 9:48 pm
This is hilarious! And those shoes are adorable!
June 26, 2011 @ 12:28 am
Yeah Jewel, easy for you to say… I just can’t forgive myself. Heels. On a 5 yr old. Ludicrous! I wear flats all day all the time. Flip flops usually. Doesn’t look like she’ll be anything like me in the shoe department.
June 25, 2011 @ 1:18 pm
For Macie’s first meet I was standing at the other end of the pool holding a nerds rope she could have as soon as she made it across the pool! Thankfully she has not found high heels, or I would be in trouble.
June 26, 2011 @ 12:27 am
That’s hysterical. I didn’t even think of bribing with food…her sweet tooth is nothing compared to mine. 🙂
July 8, 2011 @ 7:28 pm
I don’t think you did a terrible thing. It worked and we all work for an incentive! BTW, nice heels! I did something similar, when my son was 9 years old, he and his sister were to be in my sister’s wedding, When it came time to walk down the isle, he got scared and hid in the bushes. EVERYONE tried to talk him out, but he would not give in. So I said, ‘ Matt, if you go down the isle, I will buy you a 10 speed bike’ He said, ok mom thanks!! Man did I get a lot of flack from my father and other family members , but I didn’t care, it worked. He is 26 now a wonderful person and a hard worker, exec at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead!!!
Laura