How to train your man

Today, Rachel (my 10-year-old Little Sister through BBBS) took me to her favorite neighborhood BBQ joint (and by "took me," I mean that I drove and paid. She played the important role of asking for a table for 2). After eating, I complemented her on her choice (it WAS pretty good), at which point she suggested that maybe I could take my boyfriend there sometime.

"Oh, I don't know," I teased her. "I don't know if he's been good enough for me to take him out."

She was quiet for a moment. "Well," she suggested. "You can do what my teacher does and make him a chart."

I just DIED, because of course I knew what type of chart she was referring to. It's a behavior modification/positive reinforcement chart.

"Really?" I finally asked, once I had stopped laughing. "How would that work?"

"Well, you make a chart," she explained, "and every time he does something good, like clean his room or buy you a present, you give him a sticker. And then when he gets enough stickers, you can take him to Sonny's. But if he ISN'T good," she adds ominously, "NO STICKER AT ALL."

"Ah," I said. "How many stickers are we going for?"

"Like 10."

"Hmmm," I answered, feigning deep thought and consideration. "But what kind of stickers would I use?"

"Butterflies," she immediately replied. "And then you tell him [and here she adopts a very commanding, no-nonsense tone], 'Boyfriend, if you want to go out to eat, you better be good and get 10 stickers. Or no barbeque for you.' "

I, of course, am hysterical again. But I have to say, I think she's onto something. In fact, I dare say that this just may become the new Rules.

Ladies, feel free to adopt and modify in your own relationships, as needed.