Not so sweet
To bank tellers, store clerks and post-office-counter workers:
Don’t ask my children if they want candy. And while you’re at it, and even though it’s far more appropriate, don’t ask me, in front of the children, whether they may have candy.
If it were 1931 and candy were a rare treat I couldn’t afford, it might be cool to get free candy. But candy is cheap, and my children don’t need more.
My children are not deprived of sweets. We have baskets full of Easter candy, stockings full at Christmas, Valentine’s candy, birthday treats, and fat pillowcases at Halloween. I realize that another lollipop isn’t going to tip the scales. But the 13 grams of sugar and Red No. 40 aren’t the only issues; it’s also about the message it sends.
When my 6-year-old daughter slammed the minivan door on her fingers, and I took her to urgent care, I thanked the receptionist who asked me whether she could have a lollipop, and I gladly accepted. But when the children’s only accomplishment is standing in line to watch their mother buy stamps, they don’t need a treat for that. I don’t want them thinking that candy is something you eat all the time. I don’t want them eating treats that, seconds ago, they were fine without, but now that it has fallen in their laps, they suddenly want.
Candy-givers, I know you mean well. But you risk taking well-behaved, happy children and turning them into crabby children on a sugar rush, or discontented children who feel like they’re missing out because mom said no to the free sugar.
The ubiquitous candy bowls and offers of treats are wearing on me. Please, make it stop.
Recommended Links:
Leave a Comment
Only registered members can post a comment , Login / Register Here
113 Comments
Winston
about 12 years agoKevin
about 12 years agofunkenschutz
about 12 years agodavids
about 12 years agohbh1
about 12 years agoAndrew O
about 12 years agoin.dog.neato
about 12 years agoAndrew O
about 12 years agoRamos
about 12 years agowildgoose
about 12 years agoPaul Lundgren
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agoSam
about 12 years agoBarrett Chase
about 12 years agomrashley
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agomichellep
about 12 years agoyup
about 12 years agoc-freak
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoBarrett Chase
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoBarrett Chase
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agoscoe
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoBad Cat!
about 12 years agoSherman
about 12 years agoBad Cat!
about 12 years agojessige
about 12 years agoBeverly
about 12 years agobrian
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agoDeke
about 12 years agoJadiaz
about 12 years agomrashley
about 12 years agoiiveey
about 12 years agoTamara
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agoBaci
about 12 years agodavids
about 12 years agoadam
about 12 years agoBad Cat!
about 12 years agoBad Cat!
about 12 years agodbrewing
about 12 years agoPaul Lundgren
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agodoubledutch
about 12 years agoFrancene Starr
about 12 years agoGeorge
about 12 years agoBarrett Chase
about 12 years agoWilko
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agoBarrett Chase
about 12 years agoChris Smith
about 12 years agoTazmanian Devils' Mom
about 12 years agoHenry Jenkins
about 12 years agoHenry Jenkins
about 12 years agoBeverly
about 12 years agoAndrew O
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agoAndrew O
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agoBeverly
about 12 years agoEverybody
about 12 years agoPaul Lundgren
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agobrian
about 12 years agonicole
about 12 years agoAndrew O
about 12 years agowildgoose
about 12 years agoBad Cat!
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agohbh1
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoudarnik
about 12 years agoJadiaz
about 12 years agoPaul Lundgren
about 12 years agoTimK
about 12 years agoEverybody
about 12 years agobrian
about 12 years agopH
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agoAndrew O
about 12 years agoBad Cat!
about 12 years agoDanny G
about 12 years agowildgoose
about 12 years agoB-man
about 12 years agoAndrew (not O)
about 12 years agomrashley
about 12 years agoClaire
about 12 years agoJim
about 12 years agonicole
about 12 years agoLojasmo
about 12 years agodbb
about 12 years agotamara
about 12 years agodoubledutch
about 12 years agoGary
about 12 years agoTimK
about 12 years agoBad Cat!
about 12 years agoTom
about 12 years agoruby2sd4y
about 12 years ago