Peanut M&Ms

Supermom/crazedmommyofthree at her blog entitled "What Makes a Housewife Desperate?" posted a picture of the Halloween loot her kids brought home. A nice haul. I have to say from what's pictured, I'm partial to peanut M&Ms while The Belgian Wonder prefers Twix.

At our house we have two kids in braces. Their creative and generous orthodontist offered to buy back Halloween candy from his patients at $2/lb, so all but one of the kids eagerly sorted and bagged up what they wanted to sell. I supported the venture, because I get so tired of the begging and snitching day after day, kid after kid. I thought this was a great way to unload a bunch all at once.

Now I didn't see what they had bagged up to sell until we were standing at the orthodontist's counter. After weighing the candy, the ladies at the front desk dumped the candy into enormous shopping bags--I gasped! My daughter had sold at least two packages of peanut M&Ms! One of the yellow bags sat directly on top of the mountain of candy, gleaming like a chunk of gold. Man, did I want to ask for that back....but just about the same moment I spotted the M&Ms, the front desk gal told me they were planning to donate the candy to a shelter for abused women and children.

"Oh, that's so nice," I conceded, trying to pretend I wasn't drooling slightly and in desperate need of a little sugar high. Because it is nice. The shelter kids should have the M&Ms. Surely I'll find some more chocolate someplace in the house.

The front desk ladies handed the girls four dollar bills each, and the boy (who was unwilling to part with much--and who can blame him? After all, he doesn't have braces) two dollars, and I turned to go.

I thought about those M&Ms all the way out to the car. When we were all strapped in, I said to my eldest, "I can't believe you sold those peanut M&Ms! I love them!"

"I can't have them with the braces. No nuts."

"But I can have them! You didn't even offer them to your dear ol' ma."

"Ya, well, you didn't go around to the houses trick-or-treating!"

"That's true. You're right. It was your package of M&Ms to do whatever you wanted."

"Besides," she pointed out, "I offered you two Butterfingers, don't you remember?"

"Yes, yes you did. That's true." She did that the night of Halloween. Sweet girl. I did used to like Butterfingers.

But I should have rummaged through their "sell" bags the night before the big orthodontist pay-back. I lost my chance. Bummer.

Shannon at RocksinmyDryer reports that she rummages, culls and freezes some of her kids' candies for future stocking stuffers. Her kids are younger. I think mine might notice. The third girl (who chose not to sell any) counted each piece; she knew exactly how much candy she had.

I told the kids who did sell that I affirmed their decision: fewer calories, less sugar = stronger immune system for flu season and overall better health.

But doggone it, I really wanted some peanut M&Ms today.

It's okay, however. I was right about finding some chocolate in the house. I unearthed a few leftover peanut butter cups. That'll do.