Rewards and Punishment
For Sunday Scribblings.
Reward: Great sex.
Punishment: Horrible UTI.
Reward: A paycheck and insurance for working, thus enabling me to call doctor for immediate prescription for aforementioned UTI.
Punishment: I have a certain child in my class right now who is making me earn every single dime of that money and then some.
Example: Child is confronted about not doing his work. Child dramatically throws hands up in the air as if to say, “What?? How can I possibly work?”
I am expected to deduce that Child does not have a pencil with which to do the work. “I will be happy to bring you something to write with”, I say. Child grins deviously and produces a pencil from underneath his desk. I grit my teeth. I will not let the small things get to me. Later in the day, Child wads up progress report, throws it across the room and begins cursing.
Reward: Child is suspended for three days.
Reward: Older Son now accompanies family on all outings without complaining.
Punishment: House arrest is the reason he is doing so.
Reward: I now know that Older Son was doing drugs and needed help.
Punishment: I have to tell his probation officer every time I take a piss. (Quite often, lately.) And yes, this is tongue in cheek, although it is uncomfortably close to the truth.
Reward: I get to use this as a ” personal growth experience” and become a better person.
Punishment: Hopefully, there is not one.
REPLY))
You, know–I hear you on this. Why is that sometimes “personal growth experience” *feels* like punishment?
And *wink* on the sex part.
(I’m so 12)
REPLY))
sounds like you’re going through some trying times. hang in there!
REPLY))
UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection, otherwise known as a bladder infections, otherwise known as hurts like hell to pee.
Pardon the ignorance but, what is UTI?
REPLY))
clever post. It sounds like you have your fair share of punishments. Hope you get a lot more of the first reward in there!
REPLY))
Ah, that what UTI is…
If it comes from the great sex, I’ll have some of each any day. Reward and punishment, indeed.
REPLY))
Life is all about this give and take. Growth experiences are often a pain in the you-know-where too. I guess we have to try to make positives when we can.
REPLY))
This is really cute! Truth written with an added sense of humor. Thanks for the chuckle…
REPLY))
I am all in favor of personal growth unless you are talking about the kind that involves gaining weight.
That trip to anywhere that you mentioned in your last post sounds exciting.
By the way, I have heard more than once that drinking lots of fluids prevents high altitude problems. I’ve never tried it but I think it must be true.
REPLY))
“Reward: I get to use this as a ” personal growth experience” and become a better person.”
Punishment: It takes all this crap to become a better person in the first place.
Punishment before reward in this case.
REPLY))
I have a son in the same boat … hang in there … it’s a long journey.
Sorry about the UTI, but great sex is ALWAYS a good thing!!
Much peace, JP
REPLY))
They say that struggle leads to wisdom. You and I must be two of the wisest people I know around these parts by now! Have a good Monday.
REPLY))
Bummer of a situation. I’m thinking of you…
I have faith in you. You’ll get through this…and I’ll be there, holding your hand, as long as you need it.
REPLY))
I like how you did this post. The whole idea of “personal growth experience” is the very essence of punishment and reward. Good food for thought with this one.
REPLY))
Lovely, succinct post. Very well written and real food for thought.
About the personal growth opportunities that lie in Older Son’s experience of late: blessings to you and yours. Not an easy situation, but you’re obviously doing your best with it and knowing you’ve done that will be its own reward.
REPLY))
I love the way you looked at your life and tried to see the upside of all the difficulties you are experiencing. I also like the way you juxtaposed the rewards/punishments.
REPLY))
Hey, I got a UTI because I was dehydrated from drinking too much caffeine and because I had kidney stones, so that could be worse.
The child you describe is WHY I do not teach little kids ever.
Knowing what your older kid needs is a good thing and I’m glad you guys are spending more time either way.
REPLY))
[...] < a href=”http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/09/rewards-and-punishment/”>The kid who almost drove me to distraction with his game-playing cursing paper-wadding arguing self left today. Six weeks ago, if you had told me this child would be out of my room, I would have been singing and dancing in the streets. It was bad. It was so bad that I had him sitting directly underneath the camera. Grown men in my program warned me about being alone with him. Now he is finally gone. [...]