Dora the Duckie here is Little Miss Sugar’s favorite toy. She has had it since birth, and likes to play with her pretty often. She sometimes even brings Dora to the table to have lunch with her while “they” watch cartoons.

Yesterday when the livingroom floor looked like Hurricane Katrina ran through it, I asked the girls to clean it up. As usual, their reaction was as though they had to clean poo off the toilet.

I understand first hand how much cleaning sucks sometimes. But if I continue to clean up after them, they learn nothing, and I am a maid for the next 16 + years. Yea, thats not going to happen.

Little Miss Spice whined for a bit, but realized Mama wasn’t budging. She started to pick her toys up and take them to her room. Little Miss Sugar decided she was just too good for cleaning.

I tried everything, from “Youre not going to be able to play in the livingroom anymore if you dont clean up” to “Do you want to sit in time out?” and then I finally thought of an idea.

Dora the Duckie was in her hands as she was sitting on the floor. I took Dora and put her on top of the refrigerator. Little Miss Sugar went WILD.

I told her that Dora was in jail, and it was up to her to get her out.  Dora needed her to clean up the livingroom so she can come back to play. First she looked at me like I was an ass. Then 2-3 minutes later she asked when she can have her back.

“Dora is in jail and she can’t come back until you clean up the livingroom. Then she can come out and play.”

I have never seen her clean faster! Within 5 minutes, the livingroom actually looked like an adult area. No toys, books or barbies covering the floor.

If this idea was so easy, Dora the Duckie can plan on being put in the Slammer more often.

Do you take things away from your kids to bargain with them?