The Gradual Disappearance of Halloween Candy

Day 1: The day after halloween. Jericho had a pretty nice stash of candy.
General attitude towards candy: At least three times I was asked--er, begged, "Can I have some mom, please?" (complete with the big pleading eyes of Puss-in-Boots from the movie Shrek 2).



Day 2: Candy stash conspicuously devoid of anything chocolate (thanks to the man of the house).
General attitude towards candy: "Can I take some in my lunch today, too, mom? Please?"



Day 3: The pile shrinks. Jericho weeds out all the Pixie Stix and Twizzlers and tosses out the Tootsie Rolls. I allow him the Twizzlers, but keep back the Pixie Stix in a secret stash I am saving for him for much, much later on the top shelf of the pantry.
General attitude towards candy: "I love Twizzlers, but Tootsie Rolls are only good in Tootsie Pops."



Day 4: While daddy was supervising--er, distracted by a movie--Jericho asks for some candy and is granted permission, except that he hoards away all the boxed candies in his backpack, apparently to eat during class the next day (which is not allowed, either by the school or by mom). I find them while putting his library book in his backpack and remove them, banishing them to a top shelf in the pantry, but enjoying the box of Hot Tamales while reading blogs.
General attitude towards candy: Jericho doesn't even ask for any today, no doubt feeling a little guilty for hoarding the boxes of candy in his backpack then finding them missing.



Day 5: Laffy Taffy is thrown out due to the fact that little brother found a stray piece beside the freezer, and choked on a hunk of it after he gnawed into like a rodent. DumDum suckers are put in the stash on top shelf of the pantry, because they are found to be a great way to keep little brother happily occupied for up to half an hour, so long as he's confined to his car seat or high chair so he can't get everything within reach sticky and his teeth are thoroughly brushed afterward.
General attitude about candy: Jericho is rapidly losing interest in candy, but takes a couple of pieces of bubble gum to try for a record breaking bubble. He throws all the Smarties out, because "Nobody even likes those". Upon spotting the overlooked package of Whoppers, however, mom says, "Oooh! Oooh! Those Whoppers are SO mine!"



Day 6: Sweet Tarts, bubble gum, Now & Laters and Runts are added to the keepers stash on the top shelf of the pantry. To be used as bribes for extra chores during the Holidays.
General attitude about candy: No interest whatsoever. Jericho didn't even take a piece of bubble gum when asked if he wanted anything that was left.



Day 7: The sad remnants of unwanted candy. Cute as they are, I guess nobody wants gummi pumpkins with what looked like orange coconut sprinkles on top or the lemon tootsie rolls.
General attitude about candy: Nobody wants to even look at candy, so I tossed the rest in the garbage. Including the secret stash.
Everyone is sick to death of candy.
Sick, sick, sick of it.

No, really. Sick.

As in the flu sick.

Is it any wonder that a virus could thrive so well, what with a weeks worth of sugar overload pulsing through Jericho's veins?

You'd think after 10 years or so of this, I'd finally learn my lesson and dole it out with a little more restriction.



At least he's been cooperative about drinking plenty of water, and staying in his room so he doesn't spread the germs to the rest of us.

He did have a fever, or I would have been a little bit suspicious that he was just playing sick so he could stay home from school, watch movies and have mom wait on him hand and foot all day long.

I'm not feeling so hot myself. Think I'll hit the sack early tonight.