Well, over the past two years we have had a reward system set up for George where he earns "ping pong balls" (yes, actual ping pong balls) and every time he gets one we put it in a jar.   When he fills the jar to the top he gets a special toy, or we go on a special outing.  This was really successful for us for a long time but over the last 8 months or so has been really on and off.  I think it worked well while he was younger because it was a pretty easy thing to get.  But I think both of us are a little tired of it because I have gone on and off using it for  awhile now.  My sister has been inviting me to switch it up with something new.  Robby and I have been debating for a long while what to do. Anyway, after much discussion we have landed on something. It is called the "smiley store" and it is one of the biggest hits from Robby's childhood.  So we have officially decided to copy Robby's mom's idea and start one of our own in our family.  At the end of our date on Friday night we went to Target and ransacked the $1.99 isle.  We got all kinds of stuff that in the end I will probably be throwing away when they are not looking because it fits every criteria that drives me nuts, mostly that it is random and doesn't belong in any "set."  But when we were checking out we both commented that they were going to flip when they saw everything.  Bright colored plastic toys and treats, how can we go wrong?  In the end, we were wondering why we don't just do this for Christmas, massive amounts of cheap toys! So anyway, the deal is that the boys earn smiley's for doing good things and frowney's for doing not so good things, or when frankly, they are being stinkers!  At the end of the week we bring out the "smiley store" and we count out their smiley's and let them "buy"  what they want with their "smiley's." Robby told them the story of Grandma Carol and his "smiley store" when he was little and got the boys super into the idea.   We started yesterday and so far, man alive, it is a hit to say the least!  It is the perfect consequence for squabbling and it is the perfect reward for sharing, saying something nice or picking up your things.  We have been really pleased with it so far and hope to keep it up for a long time.  But like Robby said, who knows how long we will do it for but it totally makes the management of all this disciplining stuff that gets so sticky a little easier for me.  I love it because it is a real concrete consequence I can give so that I can continue to stay calm and connected when they are acting out without feeling the need to get reactive with them.  Which is the key to my own sanity frankly. So anyway, I am happy to give away my ping pong jar and welcome in the "smiley store!"