The power of an M and M

Who knew that a tiny candy coated piece of chocolate could be used to bribe a two-year old? I have two stories...about the power of the M and M...

At my daughter's "Harvest Parade" (Not to offend those who don't celebrate Halloween) it was pretty hard to get my 2 year-old to sit, let alone 12 before the parade. So, I came armed with a snack size pack of M and M's.

Before I was a parent, I laughed and blew-off any notion that I would ever use anything, let alone candy, to bribe my children...But now I have a 2 year-old. Times change. I have pictures that need taken, memories to be preserved...and by golly...if an M and M works, it works!

So, before the kids began trekking through their parade, I coerced them to get my pictures...all for the price of 2 M and M's...not bad.

But sometimes an M and M can back-fire...

We have been in the process of potty-training our daughter for approximately 4 months. We started with a sticker reward chart, it worked one week. Then we tried the oh-so-crunchy-and-sweet M and M, and well, it kind of worked. The rules were: she would get an M and M for sitting on the potty, two for pee pee, three for poo poo.

Excited, Jelly bean went to the potty, and sat but no pee pee....5 mins. later, still no pee pee, 10 mins later no pee pee. I told her if she didn't have to go, it was ok, we could try again later, "No, mommy listen, I pee pee." 15 mins. later, still no pee pee. After about 30mins. on the potty (red ring on her bottom) and still no pee pee, I convinced her off the potty. And she got 1 M and M. After she savored it for a minute..."Mommy I go pee pee (pause) I get nutter M and M." "Yes later." I replied. "No mommy, I go now, I want nutter M and M now."

So, I guess it can work sometimes and sometimes not.