In Candy Shock
For Valentine's, I'm departing from restaurants for a moment to ask: Why is it that candy holidays —Valentine's, Easter, Halloween—are so much cooler when you're a kid? And not so cool when you're the parent of a kid who goes absolutely freaking out of her mind when there's a lot of candy around?
Oh. That's why.
On days like this, would it shock you to learn that the average American child ate 25 pounds of candy last year? Read more statistics at that link if you really want to be shocked. (Three to four hours of TV a day??)
I don't have a big problem with giving Baby A candy sometimes. In fact, we used PEZ candy as a reward during potty-training. What annoys me is her attitude about it—bossy, whiny, commanding. Ugh. It so annoys me, to the point that the holiday is less enjoyable.
We insist on good manners, limit the candy to small amounts (without making a big deal about it), and try to counteract the sugar with lots of protein—peanut butter, meats, milk to drink. How do you handle the candy question in your family? Comment and let me know.
[thanks to reader Michelle T. for the tip! photo sorta kinda thanks to the USPS]
