I was pretty desperate in getting my laundry folded and put away the other day, so I paid the boys a penny for each item they folded and a penny for each item they put away.   And no that is not bribery - bribery is when you reward someone to stop doing something bad - I don't do bribery - but I'm all for rewards (and cheap labor).

I asked Luke how many items he folded and put away, and he held up all ten fingers.  "So I owe you ten cents?" I asked.   "Yes," he said.   He then thought for a second and asked, "Mommy, will we get paid money for eating?"

I looked at him, over my glasses, and said "No, Lukey, you won't get paid for eating."   He then started laughing and said, "Oh Mommy, can't you take a joke!"

Well, that tickled my funnybone, and I laughed and laughed, and went into the bedroom to check and see if Nathan heard Luke's witty comment (he had).

But when I got back to the living room, Luke was crying!   "Luke, did you hurt yourself?"   "No," he sniffled, "you were laughing at me."

Oh brother... its tough being witty and sensitive at the same time.

I gave Luke a hug and told him I was laughing with him, not at him.   And informed him if he was going to be a jokester, he better get used to people laughing.   Little boys, you gotta love 'em!