Bribery where you least expect it

Yesterday afternoon I was *trying* to talk on the phone. CJ decided that this would be the perfect time to make a ridiculous amount of racket, attack mommy, and destroy things around the house. Mommy’s on the phone, so she can’t do anything about it, right? WRONG!

I AM THE MOTHER! YOU WILL BEHAVE ON MY WATCH OR ELSE! In keeping with this mantra, I deposited CJ on his bed to wait out the timer. As is so often the case, his creative little mind was still at work.

The stage: CJ sitting on his bed. I am standing just outside the door where he can’t see me. (I have to be vigilant to ensure that he doesn’t get off the bed.)

CJ: mommy?

Me: Darn it! he knows I’m here! [Aloud] CJ, no talking to mommy when you’re in a time-out.

He peers over the edge of his bed. I see he has his yellow Sponge Bob wallet in his hand.

CJ: Mommy, I will give you FOUR DOLLARS when you tell me I can get up.

I run away as fast as I can so that he doesn’t hear the laughing…

The timer went off five minutes later, and I sat down with CJ to talk about A: why he was in a timeout (TERRIBLE NO GOOD VERY BAD NAUGHTINESS), and B: what he could do differently next time (NOT SO MUCH WITH THE NAUGHTINESS). After an apology and a hug, he was off the bed.

I wander into the kitchen, and a minute later he follows, wallet in hand. Carefully, he counts out four coins from his wallet. “There you go, mommy” he says, “four dollars for you.”

Okaaaayyyy….

Does he think that his bribery WORKED? Is this something I need to talk about? And how do you keep from LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY in the face of such behavior?

So, I decide to take the easy way out, pocket the money, and change the subject.

But now I wonder… was this the wrong approach? Am I unknowingly creating a future politician? Because what with the bribery, the negotiation, and the smooth-talking, he could be REALLY successful in that line of work!

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