Emily has volleyball, Jonathan has soccer!
Zac has swim team.....or does he?
Each year, we struggle with making our kids join the swim team. Emily has always been on the team. She loves it. She is not the fastest by any means, but has won plenty of ribbons and is a valuable member of the relay team. Jonathan has never even thought of swimming. He refuses and he is usually busy with baseball or soccer anyway. He loves that he gets to enjoy the social part of the meets without the pressure of swimming to win. We regret that we didn't make him swim years ago....he would be a much more confident swimmer and no doubt, he would be fast! We did make Zac swim last year...mostly because we knew we should've made Jonathan...and because we knew if we bribed him, he would do it. He enjoyed it somewhat. The practices are COLD because the water is freezing. They are every day and they are not easy. We knew it would be hard to get him to swim again this year.....mostly because he told us all winter "I am not swimming on Swim Team this year!"
Practice started last week....and Zac was there in the cold water with all the others...because we bribed him again! Legos speak volumes...and $50 worth of a particular set of Legos (to be awarded after the first meet) screams Swim Boy Swim!!! What does that say about us? I justify it by saying "Swimming is such a valuable life lesson, it must be okay", but the truth is I have bribed for non-valuable lessons as well.
Wondering....bribery? Anyone else doing it?
I've bribed my kids. Sometimes its the only way to get them to step out of their comfort zone and do something they may enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI swam on our summer swim team for 8 years and loved every minute of it. We were even required to go to two practices a day. I can't imagine doing it if I didn't love it...it's such a big commitment. I always hoped Brady would be on a swim team....but, no such luck!
ReplyDeletewe have definitely been bribers in the past with our girls ... sailing is SOOOO important where we live and at the same time it's a tough sport to really develop in - lots of scary things about it initially that turn kids off ... but bribery got them to stick with it and now they each have their own sailboat and use them to race regattas and have a blast ... phew!
ReplyDeleteWhen do I use bribery? Whenever it will work. And that's often.
ReplyDeleteBribery is totally part of the parenting contract. Swim, Zac, Swim! Unfortunately, bribery doesn't work too well on LB. She is a tough one. Well...maybe if we promised her an iPod Touch it might. But it would need to be something huge.
ReplyDeleteOh, and his face in that picture...priceless!
ReplyDeleteI say you use your bribes and do it with pride. Whatever it takes to encourage them. On the downside, you could end up with a 12, 10 and 8 year old that don't know how to swim yet.
ReplyDeleteLove all of your recent posts Jen! (I am a bit behind!) I say if bribery works then do it! Then let them think it was their idea when they fall in love with the sport! All 3 of mine are swimming this summer and I am happy that they are because it is a short season but they get so much out of it!! You think your water is cold? Try our freezing cold Ohio spring and practice starts in 4 days!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy that you and Kim met!! Yeah for both of you!! I want to meet you both!! Keep up the great blogging!! hugs, Cathy