This hit me like a ton of bricks.  I read this post over at www.100daysofrealfood.com, it got my brain turning.  Why are we compelled to offer rewards…be them candy, stickers, junky toys…for something that is truly a priviledge?  Activities for kids are really expensive to begin with…just being able to participate should be reward enough.  There are plenty of kids who, for financial or physical reasons, are unable to participate.  I haven’t been known to reward my kids for a great practice, or going to practice…but I also haven’t really emphasized how fortunate they are for being able to play baseball, basketball, or football.  Everything is expensive when you multiply it times 3, in our case…and soon times 4 when Em starts.

That’s Robo-O…he loved getting into the Catcher’s gear!  Now, if they had a spectacular game and made a huge play…we may have gotten some ice cream.  I do think that they were deserving of a treat in that instance. 

Something else that really amazed me…E got some money as gifts for his First Holy Communion.  He really needed a new bike.  Darling Husband did some searching around and found a really high quality bike, just right for where E is with his skill level (still needs the coaster brakes, but ready to learn to use the hand brakes).  We gave E the option of us purchasing him a lesser quality bike (which we really didn’t want to do), or sharing the cost of the nicer bike.  He chose to contribute his own money and get the nicer bike.  I believe he has a much better appreciation for his new bike.  He has ridden it every chance he has had…including everytime we have gone to our neighborhood pool.  I like that he has a vested interest in the bike.

Today’s secret revealed…I really worry that I have over-indulged my children…I want them to grow up with a sense of appreciation for the things that they have, they are quite fortunate…I hope they realized it (or that they will one day).