Now I know some of you will immediately think I'm the meanest mother on the planet when I explain this to you, however, given my circumstances at the moment, with all I have on my plate to do, this works for me.
Drew will be turning 7 next week. SEVEN! I just can't believe it. Hoping I could get away from having a party for each of the four kids every single year, I was willing him away from that answer when I asked what he wanted to do for his birthday. To no avail. He replied without hesitation, "I want a party at Chuck E Cheese!!"
Okay. Drew is very young for his grade, so most of the kids from his class he wants to invite are or almost are 8 years old, and I can pretty much guess from experience, that they won't want to go to Chuck E Cheese. Sparing my little boy a lot of ridiculing, I offered ... okay ... I BRIBED him to go in another direction.
Me: Drew, if you give up a big party at Chuck E Cheese for your birthday ... I'll make a special deal with you.
Drew: No way. I'm going to Chuck E Cheese. I want to ride the Jet Ski game.
Me: How about you pick 2 friends to go to Chuck E Cheese?
Drew: No. I want a big party.
Me: How about you pick 2 friends to go to Chuck E Cheese AND I'll buy you a Nintendo Wii.
Drew: A WII??? A WII?? I'm getting a Wii??? You've got a deal. I'm getting a Wii? Really!
I'm actually getting off cheaper than a party ... Plus, no planning, no invites, no 10 kids running wild through Chuck E Cheese ... next time you are sitting in the middle of several kids, screaming and running around, with cake and ice cream all over their faces ... think of me and this post.
Bribery!
Works For Me!
At least this year. Next year will be a whole other story, I'm sure!
For some great tips and hints (I'm sure more informational that this one) head on over to Rocks In My Dryer!