Incentives.

It is amazing what you can get kids (and probably adults, too) to do with the right incentives. I found my DS last night, after weeks of searching for it. When Ben went down to Birmingham, he took it with him. I didn't remember that I had packed it in his bag and so I couldn't find it. Well, Sam was so excited because now we could play against each other. First, he had to finish his math pages correctly if we were going to play. He never gives me trouble about doing his math, but he just zipped through those pages today. So instead of doing dishes or laundry, I have just spent the last hour getting my ego bruised by an almost six year old. All I can say is that after years of sleep deprivation due to many little children, of course my reflexes aren't as good as his! :-) No, mommy isn't a sore loser or anything.