Is it such a bad thing?
Bribery is a part of our social life whether we like it or not. Want to get into that high end restaurant without a reservation? It's going to take some cash. How about getting through the door to the hottest nightspot in town? The bouncer won't let you through just on your good looks - it's going to take some green. From the blue collar worker to the politician, bribes are made everywhere & it all starts when they are two years old.

I've found that bribery is a major motivator for Logan. If we want him to be on his best behavior while doing our weekly grocery shopping, we entice him with the reward of a new matchbox car. We're thinking about starting his potty training next week with the hopes that candy bribes will get the job done. Tonight, Bill is working late & then staying out with his friends, so it was all up to me to get Logan to bed - which is usually the biggest power struggle of the day. Not tonight, thanks to the promise of a Sponge Bob band-aid if he cooperated nicely. Which he did. I pretty much have to bribe him to be good, but is this such a bad thing?

I don't want to have to do this for everything. Ideally, I want Logan to act civilized because that is what he's supposed to do. But what is the difference between bribing & rewarding for good behavior? Isn't putting a Sponge Bob band-aid on an imaginary owie a much better & stress-free solution than temper tantrums, screams & the slamming of doors? Or is this just the cowards way of avoiding conflict with a strong willed toddler?

Whatever it is, it's working for now. I think we can spring the $5 for a matchbox car, box of Sponge Bob band-aids & black licorice (yuck!) to make for an easy, scream-free week.