The B Word

Yesterday we had family pictures taken.

I'm not sure why, but for some reason that is a very stressful event to me.

Maybe it's the pressure. 

The pressure of picking out the right outfits that somehow all coordinate well enough to look good together.  The pressure to look your best in the pictures because who wants a horrible family picture hanging in their house?  The pressure to get your kids to all smile and look at the camera at the same time and yet look natural doing it.  The pressure to not explode when your kids are ready to be done with picture taking after 5 minutes.

THE PRESSURE.

And this, my lazy moms, is where bribery steps in.

Yes, I said the B word.  Bribery.

I would like to go on the record as saying that I do use bribery on my kids for one thing and one thing only.

Pictures.

I highly believe in it and recommend it.  I personally use it whenever picture taking needs may arise and think you should to.  It might just save your picture taking sanity one day.

Yesterday before we even left the house I told my three little darlings that they could each pick out three pieces of candy when we got home if, and only if, they were good and did what they were told by the photographer while we got our pictures taken.

I'm telling you people.  It works.

Every time they didn't do what the photographer did, I'd hold up three fingers reminding them of what was at stake.

Every time they wouldn't smile -- three fingers.

Every time they whined -- three fingers.

Every time they wandered off -- three fingers.

And every time they would snap back into picture taking mode. 

Well, except that one time that I may or may not have told my frowning son through smiling teeth that I was going to hurt him if he didn't smile at me.

But all the other times it worked people.

Bribery on picture day is a lovely thing, is it not?

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