Once Upon A Candy Wagon

The kids have named their candy selling business, "The Big Candy Wagon". It's been a great venture for them. They get to know all the kids in the neighborhood, they're learning how to count money, and they're learning how to run a business. So why is this candy business giving me a headache? The kids are constantly asking to eat the candy they are supposed to be selling. "Yes you can have a piece." "No, you've had enough for today." I feel like I'm on candy patrol 12 hours a day!

Since I've been eating intuitively, I can have any kind of candy in the house and go days without eating a single piece. It's a different story with my kids. After years of having me control what and when they are eating, they don't eat very intuitively. I didn't have treats around the house very often so when I did, they would eat them almost uncontrollably. I've been trying to change their behavior lately by having lots of treats and snacks around the house and letting the kids eat them whenever they want. I want them to know there will always be plenty of yummy food to eat. What has worked the best is to divide treats into individual bags. Each of us have our own stash so we can eat it all or save it for later. Everyone knows they are getting their fair share. I've found that we all eat a lot less this way.

In spite of the fact I had given up control over other foods, I still hadn't done this with the candy the kids were selling. I let them have a little bit every time they wanted to sell, but no more. Two days ago I decided I'd had enough of them torturing me. I told them they could eat as much candy as they wanted. I knew they would eat a lot at first but I had hoped they would get sick of it eventually and not eat as much. Basically the kids have been eating candy non-stop for two days. I'm having a harder time with it than I thought. I can't stand to see them eating it!

I have devised a new plan. I'm going to give each of them a bag full of candy and tell them that's all they get for one week. When the bag is empty, they don't get anymore until next Saturday. They still get to eat it when they want but the supply won't be unlimited. I'm hoping this will work better for all of us. If it doesn't then I'll have to think of something new. I feel certain it will work though. It has too!