What's in it for me?

When I'm writing a communication at work, I make it a policy to consider the reader and to answer the question "what's in it for me?"

Being sure to include the answer to this question in the communication significantly improves its reception.

It should come as no surprise this policy applies to child rearing as well.

I've been battling with the girls to get them to pose for the camera for months now, to no avail.

But today, they realized that if they pose for a photo, they get to see it right afterward -- and they really really really like that.

So much that they often forget the part where we have to take the picture and want to skip right to the viewing.

Which doesn't work so well.

Today however, we had some success.








For this one Zoe ran across the room to pose with her strollers. I think this is the toddler prelude to the "posing with my car" shot.


















Eleni clearly surprised Zoe with this kissy attack, as evidenced by Zoe's lack of defensive posture.




















Eleni went to pose with the strollers as well, but didn't quite have the patience to wait to have the picture taken. This is her mid-stride rushing back to see the picture we never took.

A picture of BOTH girls looking at the camera (we can get to the smiles later)...this new policy shows all the signs of success.

If you receive a Christmas card with two children in the same picture, you'll know how it happened!