Oh, How Times Change

I was reading April from New Jersey's post about her un-Halloween, and it reminded me of when Andy was Amanda and Riza's age.  When he was two, we didn't take him trick-or-treating.  We took him to Charlie's office for their Halloween festivities (a couple of departments have amazing decorations and every year it is so fun to see what they have come up with), more to show him off to Charlie's co-workers than to let him get candy.  The candy he did get we didn't let him eat, we ate it ourselves or Charlie just took it back to work.  We never would have let him eat that junk, haha.

Six years later we do things a little differently.  I use candy as a daily bribe to get Amanda to do the things I want.  She, in return, willingly offers to do things to get candy.  Just the other day she said (well, in her own way that only Sarah and I can really understand), "Mommy, I want to go pee-pee for a piece of candy."  Smart kid.  Did I give her a piece of candy for going to the bathroom even though it wasn't even 8:00 a.m.?  You bet I did!

So last night all the kids went out to trick-or-treat.  Amanda picked it up very quickly and loved all of it.  For the first year we even stopped along the way for a candy break.  We usually make then wait until they get home and then let them have maybe one piece, but this year all the rules flew out the window.  I'm sure she's still a little confused about what happened, but she's going with the flow.

One thing I did stick with is our rule about how much candy the kids are allowed to keep.  We let them each pick out 20 pieces and they have to give the rest to us.  In return I give them each a small present.  Andy is starting to rebuff the idea, but his other option is the give us his candy and not get a present.  He's a smart boy, I'm sure you know which choice he made.  The problem is, Charlie and I (more likely just I) end up eating the candy they had to turn in.  Not so good.  Luckily this year Andy's school is collecting left over candy to send to a local charity, so I'll probably send it there and save my waistline.

Do I wish my youngest daughter wasn't such a candy monger?  Of course I do.  But wouldn't I change anything about last night, ever.  I can deal with her eating a little bit of candy to remember that happy little smile as she joined the big kids in their quest for the sweet stuff.