Classic Conditioning

Dave and I have tried to no avail to motivate the girls to pick up after themselves. We've tried rewarding them, bribing them, and of course threatening them. As a last resort, Dave has turned to the dreaded "black trash bag" method. After countless warnings, Dave swoops into a room with the evil bag and tosses anything and everything left out into the bag. The girls scream, cry, and clutch at the bag, promising to finally clean up.

It appears, our youngest, Alexa, has learned the lesson well. Much like Pavlov's dogs came at the ringing of a bell, when Dave opened the dreaded black bag tonight, she came screaming and clutching at the bag. Tonight, however, was garbage night, and the only things to be saved were a bunch of poopy diapers and moldy leftovers. Maybe Alexa has learned her lesson a little too well.