Halloween Candy Dilemma and Economics

We tried something new this year with the way we disperse Halloween candy among the children, and I'm ready to go back to our old way.

This year we combined the excellent idea my Mother-in-law gave me, "Put your candy in the freezer to use for gingerbread house making in December" with "Eat what you want between breakfast and 4pm, give away as much as you can and brush your teeth right after eating candy." They're eating way too much candy, besides leaving an irritating trail of candy wrappers, and not brushing their teeth. And I hate to see all the healthy and nutritious meals I've worked hard on, unravel in sticky trails.

I know it's only temporary, their candy's almost gone and then we'll be back to normal, but I'm making goals for next year's Halloween right now!

In previous years our tradition has been to allow 3 pieces of candy Halloween night (of course they choose the big candy bars we get in the nice neighborhood) and the rest goes into the Family Pot controlled by us, the parents. This year we were concerned about controlling too much of their lives, and the possible ill effects of that, so we decided to allow more freedom in this area, since candy isn't in the other areas).

We also heard of a family, with seven children, who allow their children candy freedom because it teaches them economics and savings--the candy trading teaches them the realities of supply and demand, and the 'eating and having it gone' versus 'the ones who save and can eat candy corn on Valentine's Day' teaches them the value of saving without an allowance. Sounds good, doesn't it?

But I don't like how the days following Halloween have become a round of sugar highs, lows, crankiness, runny noses and coughs and sugar-induced poor behavior. I don't see them learning economics. I see them increasing in their arguments and feeling more tired and out of sorts.

Then my Mom mentioned that I grew up with the Family Pot idea (that's where I got it!) and I turned out normal (right?) so I decided controlling their Halloween candy will not leave scars and I want to go back to candy rationing.

This is how I want to do it next year. Everyone will get their 3 pieces and the rest will go into the family pot. I will then take all the candy that will be great for gingerbread house decorating, freeze it for December, and use the rest of the candy for bribery--I mean "positive habit forming re-enforcement." It will mean we will have the coolest gingerbread houses ever (I will talk that one up!) and a more important economics lesson--delayed gratification is a good thing.

How does candy dispersal work in your family?

Read-Every day read a bit from a parenting book

One of the most memorable parts in Alice In Wonderland, for me, was where she explains that she often gives herself good advice, but very seldom takes it. This next bit of advice is very good, but I am in need of the reminder myself, because I am not currently taking it.

The advice: Every day read a bit from a parenting book.

When I have taken my own advice, I have noticed a big difference in how I parent. The "daily bit" doesn't even have to apply to the day's situations. It's as if the act of reading parenting ideas dusts off the parenting tools already in my belt.

Perhaps it the act of reading reminds me that I'm teaching not babysitting my children. Perhaps it realigns my priorities toward loving them not reacting to them. Perhaps it feels like a mentor is with me and I'm not having to parent alone or in the dark.

Perhaps your reasons will be different than mine. All I know is that reading a bit from a parenting book a day keeps a "witchy Mom" away.

Any of you have a similar experience? What are your favorite parenting books? I will be sharing mine in future posts.
~Valerie Harmon