My oldest son is a hard-core capitalist to the core. He views things as either a "win" or a "lose". So, we tailor things to that attitude.

The household chores was done as a recommendation from the psychologist. That actually took a lot of me breathing down my oldest son's neck to get him engaged.

Again - 100% positive reinforcement doesn't work on him. If he loses nothing, he sees no reason to "gain" anything.

And it is complicated, but the kid understands it.

My youngest, however, isn't all that hyped on all the lists and challenge things. Plus, we don't have the same issues with him concerning school and doing things around the house either.

I buy cigars with my allowance

Seriously though, we gave our daughter what she needed when she was growing up. she had no specific chores, but she always did what was asked of her. Our priorities were school, and she got straight a's and was validvictorian of her high school class. That got her into Northwestern University.

jpotts

I see it as a good plan I was never aware of. I agree 100% positive reinforcement does not always work. I was unaware of alternate plans and I was lucky that what I did worked for my family.

I am glad that parents are thinking and using resources, but I have always believed that strong families are the only answer and education is our salvation.

Congrats on our common ground.

The funny thing is that my oldest son's third-grade teacher sat there and argued with me that my son had different motivations from every other kid. As if some old blue-haired biddy who knew my kid for a sum-total of a couple of months somehow was able to figure out my kid better than me - the person who raised him.

And the comical part about the psychologist is that virtually all of his recommendations - which were accepted by my son's teacher and the staff at the school without question - came directly from my wife and I.

After which, his acedemic performance increased dematically. Imagine that!

Now, imagine what would have happend had the people in the school listened to us in the first place?

Don't get me started about public schools...

I stole the idea from my parents, who paid me for grades and work. They paid me more for work than grades, so I stopped doing homework and did more hardwork; good in the short term, not so good in the long.

Made enough money to buy two motorcycles before I was 17.

My kid gets paid on the 15th and the 31st of the month. 44% of his paycheck goes straight to his savings account. The rest is his to do what he wants.

He sure does like crack.

Crack is good, as long as he uses protection.

What does he do with the 98.2% of the rest of his money?

Buys his dad cigars.