The Kindness of Positive Reinforcement

"The consequences of an act affect the probability of its occurring again."
~ B.F. Skinner

I believe in thank you notes -- I really do.  Sadly, it always seems that I am behind on my social correspondence... sigh.  I write thank you notes because I think it is kind to do so, because I believe in good manners and in etiquette, and -- believe it or not -- because I like to!  Some may think me crazy, but there it is.  I don't always manage to write my thank you notes.  And while I encourage my children to write them, we don't always manage to do that either. 

Earlier this week, I wrote about a friend of mine's hosting a special birthday party for my son.  My son wrote my friend and her family a thank you note, which was very heartfelt and sweet.  My friend received the note and sent a text message saying how much she and her husband enjoyed it, and that it was "the best thank you note ever!"  I read the message to my son, who beamed with pride and insisted that I read the message to his siblings.  There is nothing like the kindness of positive reinforcement to encourage a child's good behavior!