Bribing the kids
 

A subject that was introduced on another thread so i thought it may be interesting to find out the various bribes that people have offered their kids as 'sweetners' to move to Australia.

I have offered my daughter a dog, someone else a swimming pool.......How far will we go to keep them happy :cool: Id be interested to see who has the most outrageous bribe!Im sure there are a few :p

Re: Bribing the kids
 

Not outrageous but...... we too have told the kids that we will get a dog when we get to Australia. Our two dogs both died over the last 3 years, we lost one back in 2001 and the second died back in September so we decided it was better to start afresh with pets once we got there rather than go through the trauma and expense of shipping a pet. There has certainly been a gap in our lives for the last few months so it'll be nice to put that right again.

Well, that's me sorted - haven't dared to ask the girls what they want though we have dangled a carrot by saying that we'll do Disney USA style en route! :D

Binbird

Re: Bribing the kids
 

As you know, our 'bribe' is to get my son a trampoline. :)
My daughter has already chosen what colour she wants for her bedroom, so we have 'okayed' that.

I have a feeling of 'impending doom'.... :eek: :D

Need to start another thread...
Required. One big house in Perth, must have a yellow bedroom, huge (level!) garden (and a pool would be nice. :) )

Re: Bribing the kids
 

The pool was us!

Re: Bribing the kids
 

I love this thread, sniggering at how we all have to BRIBE to get what we want.

I want to be near beach, husband wants land therefore need to buy a place in between. daughter needs extra large shed to set up her business, grandson needs a bit of rough land for his mini quadbike and grandaughter is taking her trampoline. They also want ponies !!!

I though I'd left the horsey life behind when we returned to UK, but it all started up again a couple of years ago, and I have to admit it was much easier and more enjoyable in Oz than UK- so no doubt ponies will be on the shopping list too!

Oh well best get searching for job prospects to cover the costs of all the bribes!

Re: Bribing the kids
 

LOL, this thread is funny.
Seems I have been a bit silly and promised all 3 obvious things. Pool, dog and trampoline and am now caught in a family debate on big dog versus small dog and horror of horrors heard myself saying that maybe we could have a small dog AND a big dog.
Hope there are enough dogs, pools and trampolines to go round :D

Re: Bribing the kids
 

OMG- Completely forgot about the previously promised pony :eek: .......that was way way back in the beginning though, so hopefully she has forgotten too. ;)

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Unfortunately, I can guarantee that ponies won't be forgotten from our listI LOL Blossom :scared:

Re: Bribing the kids
 

Not a bribe for the kids but I said to my hubby that if we were going to Australia I would want an amount of money set aside in a separate contingency fund to allow me to return to England for a visit as and when and if I wanted! Might sound selfish but basically the whole of his family is off to Aus so the decision to leave was harder for me than him.

Binbird (again!)

Re: Bribing the kids
 

I have promised my Mum £ 10.000 from the sale of the house ( guilt money) so she has all her flights paid for. I told my daughter that it will NEVER rains....how stupid was that :confused: and the ultamite bribe was my son who i bribed with " Mr Incredible lives in OZ " his reply....." Please Mummy when can we go pleeeeaaaase" ....wicked mother i hear you all say...know but i was put in a position. :rolleyes:

Re: Bribing the kids
 

That is one hell of a bribe girl!!

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And don’t forget the trampoline so she can jump from trampoline to pool! And a dog was mentioned, because she is going to miss Bailey, brothers chocolate Labrador puppy and Nero, other brothers Doberman puppy!
She has also mention a lap top with web cam for talking with her friends…the list could go on!
And Mum and Dad’s answer to these requests “We’ll see!� ;)
Got to love 'em! :D

Re: Bribing the kids
 

lol,guess we re not the only one then ;) ...ok ok i have told my daughter that she can have a puppy,start surfing and horse riding...we ll definately have a pool and she wants a room of her own to use as her own sitting room come games room...if that seems like a tall order :eek: she wants to be right near the beach and go to watch plenty of bands play :scared: hope they have her sort of bands in oz...think i need a drink :beer:

tracey :D

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Bribe them! what a load of garbage. Tell them if they are not on the plane
to OZ with you, then they will have to stay at the toughest most disciplined boarding school in the UK until they turn 18. One of those old fashioned 19th
century style boarding schools the teachers still hand out corporal punishment. :scared: :scared:

Re: Bribing the kids
 

hmmm....yes but a trampoline def is far less expensive than boarding school. ;)

Dont forget they are kids at the end of the day and anything that can make the transition easier can only be good. :)

Do you have any kids then? ( :scared: )

Re: Bribing the kids
 

we have promised the pool already got the trampoline wich is currently upside down in the garden due to winds :rolleyes: i would of promised a puppy but i must have the only child terrified of small cute animals
but the best one is he said he did not want to go if it did not snow so guess what i said... :D im very evil

Re: Bribing the kids
 

What about...
If we move Dad wont be as ratty becasue he will not have such a demanding job and will be permanently chilled out supping a can of beer by the BBQ and therefore wont shout unless you knock his can over? :D

Richard

Re: Bribing the kids
 

Oh dear,
I am afraid I have also promised the dog (currently standing at 2), a swimming pool and also some time ago when we first discussed Oz I kind of said they could all have their own computer in their rooms. God, I hope they have forgotten that one. Anyway, the plan is to get them outside more when we get over there so I might also offer a trampoline!!!!!!

Re: Bribing the kids
 

Was reading yesterday when someone said their kid didnt want to go, and immediately thought someone would reply, tell him he'll get a dog/horse/pool.
:rolleyes:

Having three kids who moved out here I reckon its a crazy thing to do, most people arrive and have to rent, so the pet thing will often be difficult, majority of rental houses dont have pools, too much bother for the landlord, so thats less likely too. Getting a dogs a crazy thing to do until you are sure your are not one of the many who head back to the UK after a while.

Most mum and dads are very stressed the first few months job hunitng etc, really think most kids will feel pretty cheated once they arrive and realise the more likely realistic situation of the first year. Hows your average 7 year old gonna feel when the ponies and backyards with koalas :rolleyes: turn into mum and dad screaming at each other over wages or schools or cost of living :eek:

Not being rude just realisitic.

Re: Bribing the kids
 

Oh dear, we didn't need to bribe our kids, they want to go as much as us!

Can this be normal?

Re: Bribing the kids
 

[QUOTE=jad n rich]Was reading yesterday when someone said their kid didnt want to go, and immediately thought someone would reply, tell him he'll get a dog/horse/pool.
:rolleyes:

I understand you write and tell us of being realistic - but it's all part of the dream - and if you want it hard enough it will happen.

I did it once, and it happened, I'm sure I can make it happen again second time around.

Oh, and before you say anything about returning to UK - this was purely down to serious health reasons and thought my daughter and husband would be better off back in the UK with family, should anything happen to me. Well here I am 11 years later, so off back this time with bribes/promises for the grandkids - the grandkids I never expected to see!

I agree we have to be realistic, but let us have our dreams too!

Blossom ;)

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Someone always has to go and ruin it by being realistic :rolleyes:
Luckily my child wont have to put up with the above- not unless i get a huge megaphone as her dad will be about 20 miles away :cool: Oh well .....I can shout at the new dog instead :p

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Have to agree with you. We've been here 3 months and are pretty pi$$ed off with the rental. Work took a while to come through and I'm glad my kids haven't been demanding "things" as my "wish list" for general household items is pretty long itself. My 7 year old isn't impressed with her pokey little room, but she doesn't complain. It's hard adjusting to a rental after you've owned your own home and we will find it hard to get a mortgage soon as my hubby is self employed.
My 7 year old looked forward to Singapore and really enjoyed the experience though and I have to admit that I didn't come clean on the koala thing for a while... ;)
My advice would be not to promise things but explain that you believe the change of country will bring a better life in the long run. This worked for us. Also, bring lots of little things to jazz up your kids rooms; those removable stickers for walls are fab and duvets etc. are expensive here.
ATB
Larissa

Re: Bribing the kids
 

I agree with what is said about bribing the kids etc.
However, my "bribes" were said light-heartedly. I have told the kids that they can have the things I mentioned but they are not a bribe as they are all really keen to go except the oldest who changes her mind constantly. She hasn't been offered any of the things (maybe I should try it :D ).

The younger 2 have both wanted a dog for ages and I am sure they could look after one so have said that yes they probably can get one. They know that if we end up in the situation where we can't buy a house then we probably wont be allowed one.

I am sure everybody else has said it jokingly. It is just part of the envisaged new lifestyle we will all have. Pool, trampoline etc. as we will be able to have more time outside. No harm in giving them a little more to look forward to.

Re: Bribing the kids
 

anyway its not just promising kids stuff iv promised the bloke he can have one of these american fridge frezzer things for his cans :scared: at least thats all he's been promised lol ;)

Re: Bribing the kids
 

Do you Pom Parents have to bribe your kids to get them to do anything.
People on this forum have said PC has gone mad in the UK. Is this part of it, where you have to treat 7 year old kids as young adults. If they refuse to go to school instead of punishing them with a smack or something you have to sit down with them and negotiate some sort of bribe or payoff. :rolleyes:

Re: Bribing the kids
 

my daughter is nearly 17 and is in two minds whether she wants to go or not,on one hand she wants to go and see and do all the things that she cant do here,and is quite exited when shes talking about it,and on the other hand its a big rench especially for a girl of her age to leave all her friends,at the moment she is enjoying life,i really wish we d have done it when she was younger,but oh well we didnt :rolleyes:
Anyway, i dont really consider them bribes ive just pointed out the plus side of moving to oz, and i ll do my adsolute best to give her all the things she wants when we get there,of course she does realise that she wont get all these things straight away and she knows that she ll have to get a job herself to help pay for some of these things,it wont be all handed to her on a plate,she works weekends now to help to pay for the things she wants, so most of these things i dont think are unrealistic in time of course.

tracey

Re: Bribing the kids
 

During winter in Many parts of Victoria, Tasmania and NSW it does snow and
there are ski fields and ski resorts in Australia. My car was covered in snow last winter at Mt Buffolo in Victoria. Some people know very little about OZ and think its hot everywhere all year round down here.

Re: Bribing the kids
 

a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

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i did realise it snows in parts of aus just not where we are going wich is bris so i wasent really telling fibs

Re: Bribing the kids
 

I dont think discussing or negotiating things with your kids is PC gone mad or treating them as young adults. I personally discuss things in a way that is appropriate to her age and treat her as a PERSON who has feelings of her own and allow her to air them freely.

As for suggesting that punishing your kids with a slap is the way forward then I would suggest your parenting skills are somewhat archaic. I think you will find most studies on the subject have proven that violence is not an effective parenting tool. It should not really have to result in using violence on your kids to get them to 'fall into line'

If you hit your children every time they misbehave then your relationship with them will be based on fear and that is not a situation that I personally wish to be in. I would rather enjoy a loving relationship with her.

As for the bribe - it was meant as a lighthearted thread :rolleyes:

Obviously my daughter has been told the reality of the situation. Yes, we can have a dog, when we get our own place with a garden. However long that takes!! and we would have got one anyway as it is something i would also like.

Regarding your advice on the way to bring up kids - following your suggestions the saying 'people in glass houses.............' springs to mind.:cool:

Chill out wombat. You are like a bear with a sore head.
When did anyone mention the kids not going to school??? Go cause trouble on another thread- we were just trying to have a giggle. :eek: Heaven forbid!

Re: Bribing the kids
 

This trampoline thingy sounds very good.

Although I have some horrific memories (or should it be mammaries) of being 14 years old and doing a competition at school.

I was bouncing up and down as you do on the school trampoline.

When my sports top flew up, revealing a frilly white vest. Yes I say vest because Mother Nature hadn't given me breasts yet.

All the boys saw my 'bee stings' and I was the laughing stock.

Anyway, several years later and I developed and kept developing.

But if a trampoline is the accepted bribe for things, then I refuse to go to work until my husband gets me one.

I already have the dog and a ginger cat, and a trampoline to bounce on would seal the deal.

One thing, if you're in West London and you go near my house, you may just see me boucning up and down.

Only this time, instead of a vest, I will be blacking my eyes instead. :D

Re: Bribing the kids
 

my thoughts entirely,some people take things to seriously :D

tracey.

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lol, lol, lol, i ve got this picture inmy mind of you with two black eyes jumping up and down on a trampoline,lol...dont worry id be the same if i used one :D :D good excersize though ;)

tracey.

Re: Bribing the kids
 

Hi Rachel :D

Have to say I`ve said a pool & dog too, although have been very honest about the whole move thing and they seem to be ok at the moment :eek:

Have to meet for lunch again soon :)

Sue :)

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Hi Sue

You are back!! :D

Pool and dog are all a part of the lifestyle arent they ;)
Pool may have to wait for me though- unless a padddling pool counts.
Good luck tomorrow.
See ya soon for a :beer:

Rach

Re: Bribing the kids
 

yo, sue, you managed to get on line again today, are you ok.

tracey.

Re: Bribing the kids
 

here here

Re: Bribing the kids
 

So far, we have promised the kids a pool, an iguana (hot country see) and a parrot but we're trying to point out that we won't need a parrot cos of all the lovely birds we'll get in the garden.

Also, holidays to GBR, etc. etc.

I have promised myself a big fast shiny motorbike!

Re: Bribing the kids
 

Hiya Tracey :D ....Dare I say it but it seems to be working ok at the moment :confused:

Alls well :) just having a battle with the people that wanted to buy our house :mad: I think they`ve gone a bit mad?? STRESS :rolleyes:

Meds tomorrow :scared:

Sue