When I was growing up, I was nerdy enough to really look forward to report card days. (*cough* *Hermione Granger!* *cough*) Still, even though I was always relatively certain what grades I would find, I never stopped being nervous when I opened the little sleeve. Even in college I would hold my breath until I saw what was inside. Imagine my surprise to find myself feeling the exact same way when Connery came home with his first report card yesterday. I didn't want to breathe before reading it! As it turned out, it was a great report card, and we discussed it with him before dinner, giving him praise and encouragement. Then we got him some ice cream.
I remember getting some report card "presents", but I also know that the idea of rewarding kids for good grades is controversial. The good grade should be its own reward, or so the argument goes. The counter-argument, I presume, is something about good grades being worthwhile regardless of the motivation. I fall in the middle, I guess, just as I do on most parenting controversies. (Me? Wishy washy? Absolutely, when it comes to these kinds of things.) I have already seen that Connery is motivated to do well in school, and I don't have a problem giving him a little something extra for working hard. I'm probably not going to be the kind of parent who pays my kids for "A" grades, but I don't think Dairy Queen is out of line.
What about you? Do you reward your kids for good grades? Were you rewarded?