Bad Daddy

A little while ago, Linda came up with a little motivational device for rewarding the kids when they do the things they're supposed to do without being asked.

A chart was hung in the kitchen with one column for each kid, and down the side, the rows were labeled with things like "make bed", "clothes in hamper", "homework", "music practice", "clear dishes", and "hang up towels after bath time".

Now, each time they take care of one of these responsibilities, a dot is placed in the chart. The idea is that when every box on the "dot chart" is filled for a certain number of days, we have some kind of treat, like making cookies, or going to Rita's for water ice.

So both Linda and I thought it was very cute when the kids started putting dots on a separate chart made especially for Daddy. It's a very rewarding feeling when one of your children appreciates something you've done, and wants to find some small way to say "thank you".

That is, until your 5-year-old gets angry at you and vandalizes your "dot chart".