Can they have C-A-N-D-Y?

Have you ever noticed that no matter where you go, there is always someone who wants to adore your children? They want to tell you just how sweet they are and how well behaved there are. You smile and thank them and before you walk away they want to give your children candy?

It's either that, or my children have signs on their foreheads that all people see but their mommy that says "My mommy never lets me have anything sweet, please offer me candy"

I go into the bank, they all ohh and ahh over my children, they tell me how well behaved they are and how polite. And then the spell out to me, can they have a piece of C-A-N-D-Y? Or sometimes it's even S-U-C-K-E-R? And of course my children know what those spell. They catch on quick. So they immediately say "Oh please mommy?"

I can't NOT let them have it, then what kind of mother does that make me look like? So of course I always give in, because they have made me look like the mother of the year by behaving and staying near me. Which is a response to my threats in the car prior to entering.

And of course they take their sucker or their candy and eyes bright and smiling they look at the person and say in these sweetest voice "Thank You", to which I beam with a proud mommy moment.

You never hear anyone say and spell out "Aww your children are so adorable, can they have some C-A-R-R-O-T-S?" Of course not! And I realize that candy and healthy do not go together. Healthy candy is an oxymoron.

I know this trick, I spent a lot of years giving my friend's children cake and candy and all kinds of things that are full of sugar. Why? Because they are not my children, and they go home with their mother complete with sugar high. In which my friends call me cursing my name shortly after.

I don't want to be the villain in my children's eyes by not letting them have something of which you are offering, especially when it's candy.

I am guilty of it at my own job, I offer it out, I always have some sort of hard candy or sucker to offer away to an adorable well behaved child. Thinking about it, there has got to be a better option or better yet, not put another mother in the same predicament by forcing my candy on her child.

Now that I am a mother, and my kids are going home with me? I am a little more informed. Please, keep your candy or suckers or sugar high of any sort. Because trust me, my kids get enough sugar at home, and any more added to it, affects my sanity.

Are your children offered candy or some other option when you are out and about?