Oreos, A New Form of Currency

If you’ve read my blog over the past few months, you know that Greenleigh’s behavior can be, well, problematic.  Greenleigh is a good, loving kid, but some of her actions are far from “good” or “loving”.  I’d like to say that this is a new development, but the fact is, it isn’t.  She’s always been one to act out, and even the pediatrician was mortified to see one of her first tantrums at 10-11 months.  We’ve tried the reward system, but it never worked.  We offered ice cream if she finished her dinner, stickers if she cleaned up toys, or even a new toy if she’d be good in a store for us to shop for 10 minutes (slippery slope, I know).  Bottom line – it didn’t work.  Well, maybe it would work, but only once and then we were right back where we started.

Until recently when my husband introduced her to Oreo cookies.

I didn’t fully appreciate their power until one night when Greenleigh was refusing to eat her dinner.  Typical around here.  But then she said a word, or what sounded somewhat like one at least – “Are-E-O”.  Eventually I figured out what she was trying to say and said, “Sure, you can have an Oreo if you eat your dinner.”  Not that I thought that would ever happen.  But it did.  Then it worked the next night.  And the next.

I happily agreed to pay the 1 Oreo per day so she would eat her dinner, until about a week ago when I told her that it was time to go upstairs and shower.  She looked back at me and responded, “Then I get 3 Are-E-Os, I mean, 5 Are-E-Os.  Right, Mommy?”.  Clearly, she thought we had entered some kind of cookie negotiations.  It doesn’t help that 5 is her favorite number.  Um nice try little one, but that’s not how it works.  Besides, all that sugar would clearly contradict the good behavior that the cookie is supposed to instill.  But just the thought of getting that many cookies made bath time so much easier that night.

Who knew that one little sandwich cookie could have so much power?  These things are like gold I tell you – gold!  And the best part?  They come in a package of, like, 75.  That’s a whole lot of being good for about $4 per bag, or $2 when I’m lucky enough for them to go BOGO.  And let me tell you, my shopping cart is going to be like one of those crazy extreme couponer’s carts when that happens again.  Not that I’m against extreme couponers, I just don’t understand why someone needs 207 bottles of mustard.  But 207 bags of Oreo cookies?  Now that makes sense.

As parents we call this the reward system, but let’s tell it the way it is.  I’m totally paying my child in cookies so she will complete basic daily living activities (eating and bathing).  They are a form of currency around here.  And if that’s what it takes to get the job done, I guess I’m okay with that.  So while I can pretend that this is some sort of “reward system”, it’s really that I’ve turned to bribery, and I’m only a little ashamed.  Her future dentist may never forgive me, but oh well.  Unfortunately carrots and celery don’t get the same response that Oreos do.

Do you use the “reward system” with your toddler?  What motivates them to clean up their toys or eat their veggies?

**This post was in no way sponsored by Oreo, although I would happily accept such a sponsorship since my child clearly responds well to their powers.  If anyone is out there from Nabisco, feel free to contact me.  I’d happy exchange blogging for cookies.  Yes, this is what my life is now reduced to – Pleas to cookie companies to keep my child content.  Awesome.