A lesson in honesty and work...

Last week Lindsey found $6 outside by the curb. She was thrilled. I had to take her down from her euphoria when I told her she could only keep it if no one claimed it. The night before I had been on a girls night and when we got out of the car it was at that very spot. In addition my brother had also been over and parked near there. So I began asking around and while it seemed everyone thought they could possibly have lost it no one claimed it (knowing Lindsey found it). Anyway, it was then awarded to her. Then she began begging me to spend it. When I we got the store she had so many ideas of what she wanted to buy it was hard to find just one thing. It was only $6 dollars. In the end she bought a barbie but she really wanted her sister. I try to never buy things without them earning it so I told her she could have her sister (just $6) if she agreed to learn how to clean the bathroom. Fast forward to the next day when I asked her to clean the bathroom. Not as thrilled with her deal. But she complied. Anyone who knows Lindsey knows what might happen next. Lindsey is an expert negotiator and pretty soon had convinced Jacob to join the "fun". So Jacob and Lindsey began the lesson. At first Lindsey seemed totally horrified but after she realized rubber gloves were part of the deal she adjusted and even began to like it. Jacob cleaned the bathtub while she did the toilet. Jacob moved on to the counter. He was amazed at the impossible task of removing the dried tooth paste (tell me about it). It took a long time to get that off. He vowed to me to never do that again. They cleaned the entire bathroom and moved on to my bathroom. It took ten times as long but they learned how to do it. Lindsey was even asking when she could do it again, apparently she already wants more money!