Monday, September 6, 2010

The Price of a Tummy

Since Grace has been on the OmniPod, she has refused to put it on her tummy. She never even had shots in her tummy when she was on shots. She would faithfully rotate the Pod from each arm, her bottom, each thigh and upper leg, but never, never, never the tummy. In fact, don't even mention the tummy cause it cause shrieking and running from the room. So, like anything else, I waited. Heck, I waited a good 9 months until my little Miss G was ready for the pump, I was ready to wait this one out too.

Then about a month ago, I mentioned the tummy site when she would change the Pod. Literally every time I would ask her. She would faithfully tell me 'NO!' and then explain that the tummy site would "REALLY HURT MOM!" I would ask her each time who told her this - was it someone else? was it me? She would respond that no one had told her that, it was just what was in her head. She was sticking with the idea that it hurt worse than anything and you know how once a thought gets into your head you cannot help believe it? That was the conundrum my gal was stuck in. I had Gary Scheiner talk with her, her CDE and endo talk with her - everyone told her the truth. That it hurt no more and no less than any other site she already did.

Finally I thought of something. Every one has their price in life. In other words, it was like Fear Factor. How much to eat the cow's eye? How much to sit in a tub with snakes? What's it worth to you? What I learned from that show is that everyone has a price to do anything. If a person won't do something, you just haven't hit that person's price point yet.

So, basically I played Fear Factor with Grace. And I am not even ashamed to say it.
(And to those of you who even think of leaving a comment about how I paid her off and bribed her. Well, you could put it that way. Yes, I did. And I'm not even a bribery kind of Mom!)

I placed $20.00 on the table and told her it was hers tonight if she put the Pod on her tummy. I knew money started talking to this gal in the last year. Allowances. Money to buy things. The girl knew money. The deal was $20.00 to try a tummy site. Just once. Then after she tried it and it was OK, it was part of the rotation of sites. $20.00 was a one time deal. And I guaranteed that in 4 hours, if it bothered her so much that she couldn't stand it, I would remove the Pod and we would place it somewhere else.

It was quite a deal. Worthy of MidEast peace negotiations.

Guess what Gracie's price point on a tummy insertion site is?




That would be $20.00.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

WAHOO for Grace. Did it hurt as much as she thought it would? I am all for bribery Penny. I let Joe watch TV while I do site changes to "distract" him (it is bribery and I am not above it).

xoxo

Unknown said...

P.S. I finally got your button to work on my blog!!! YAY.

Penny said...

Hey Reyna - No, it didn't hurt her, that's what shocked her I think! She didn't even flinch!
And YAY! for my button finally working. I told you it was a miracle button - hee hee hee! Thanks!

Heather said...

That is awesome she let you try it, even if it did cost you! ;) There is nothing wrong with bribery on occasion.

Anonymous said...

Haha! She's one smart cookie!

We had a similar situation with Caleb. At age 4, his price was 20 coins for our 10 coin prize box. (I give out coins for positive behavior). I've never before or since given 20 coins at once. It was SOOOOO worth it though!

k2 said...

I AM SO PROUD OF HER!!!

Donna said...

WAY TO GO GRACE!!!!

I totaly bribed Sugar Boy with his first Bum site! He was ADAMANTLY opposed to having a site on his bum... so I pulled out the big guns... a new train! He caved in no time. =)

my sweet girl said...

Good for her!!!! These kids have so many challenges to face that if a little bribery works then so be it!!

Jules said...

I laughed out loud at this and just loved that sassy photo of Grace with the hot cash in her hand!

Amanda said...

Good for Grace (and you)! She is such a cute girl. I have never done a tummy shot or site on Emma and it makes me cringe just to think of it - I don't know why but it sure does! Luckily the Dr said she is too skinny for those right now, so I get to wait a while before I overcome my fear!

Joanne said...

Right now Elise's price point is an M&M... $20 would buy a lot of M&Ms!

Unknown said...

WOOT WOOT!!!!

Hi Five and a Hip Bump!!!!

Congrats on this major milestone... definitely worth $20!

Five Bears A-Blogging said...

Sounds like a win/win to me :)

Heidi / D-Tales said...

That might just be the best $20 you've ever spent! :)

Leighann of D-Mom Blog said...

Whatever it takes!

When we first started pumping we made a sticker chart. One sticker for every pod change and then she could have a brand new art kit when we got to 30.

And by then she didn't need stickers as incentive anymore.

Bernard Farrell said...

Even with the bribe I'm sure it was scary for Grace. Good for her (and top creativity marks for you).

Heather said...

OMG - the look on her face is PERFECT! Like she is making much more of a big deal of the $20 than the tummy insertion. Way to go!

:O)