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Let’s face it. Parents today are not what they were. Remember the days when
parents knew their place and children could push them around when they got out
of line? These days they’re so serious. We are expected to treat them with kid
gloves and it’s hard work. If it carries on this way, where will we be?
Carrying the can for everything, that’s where!
So I invented SmileMiles. I got the idea when I introduced it as a fun behavior
modification system that my folks could understand. It had to be simple! Like
the old reward chart we used to have. The idea was to use SmileMiles in place
of stickers or money. Whenever they want to assist an outcome they offer
SmileMiles. When they want to reward a special effort, they give SmileMiles.
1000 SmileMiles = 1 money unit. Or whatever works for you. You can decide.
 “You little star! You set the table every day! – That deserves a thousand SmileMiles!”
“You pulled the cat’s tail again! - That’s five thousand SmileMiles you just lost!”
“You did brilliantly in that test! - That’s got to be worth ten thousand!”
“You breathed well today! – Here’s another thousand!
Like I said, you set the rules! A bit of a joke at first, it caught on fast and
soon turned into a serious – and fun - way of managing my folks behavior. For
sure, we still have strong words, but there’s not so much sulking, and far more
smiles.
The verbal version was best of course, because they never could keep track and I
always made a few thou on the side  . Paper reward charts were good too. But
they got mislaid or tampered with (heheheh), soon stopped, and things got back
to normal. As for praise, well its always welcome and honestly, its just good
to talk. But there are times when we deserve a reward, but they forget to give
(too busy right?), they always expect more, and soon we cannot be asked to do
anything at all. Then one day you wake up and it’s all your fault!
So we really got into this SmileMiles thing and online accounts were drawn up
where we traded points and had fun with conversion rates and it was me against
the bank. But to be honest, the best part is the discussion.
SmileMiles gives parents an online account in your name – because you’re prob
not yet old enuf for a real one. You get debits and credits for things you do
(or don’t do) and then you get to cash them in piece by piece or all at once.
Its great how they can mount up and it’s a bit of a game – just be careful not
to ask for too much!
The thing is, your folks think s they’re in charge now, because unlike the old
paper behavior modification chart its electronic, which means you can’t
cheat - but neither can they!. More than anything, it’s a great game, but then
I would say that – I’m earning loads of SmileMiles. As well as the account, we
get a private messaging channel – like our own family email or chat but without
the freaks - so we can send messages, which is useful if mum’s at work, or if I
want to say something that’s better in writing. I can go to the school library,
log in and send a message. I can type better too!
 There’s some cool game site links and stories. Homework sites too, which can be
useful. Best of all, I get my own personal web space where I can post my
thoughts and game cheat links and pictures of me, anything! The web space can
be published for my friends and family to see, or even the World Wide Web as
long as the folks agree.
Right now, I’m saving up for a new tennis racket, a CD walkman, a phone…or
.whatever There’s no rush. It’s good fun getting there and hey! they’re
learning all the time! Serious fun, I call it.
Do your folks a favour and sign up today for the free trial. All you need is
their email address. You will need one of them to register before you can do
anything more than look around, but give them a nudge, it may be just what they
need to get them to lighten up a little. If you stay longer, maybe see you
around. Now I’m “off to do something more useful than sit in front of a
computer all day long” – here we go again.
Register Now!
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