Sugar High

I love autumn. I love everything about it. The color of the sky, the color of the trees, the crispness in the air, everything. I love Halloween; decorating for it, carving pumpkins, school costume parades and trick or treating. I love helping the kids get into their costumes over and over for parties-putting on scary makeup and spray painting hair. I love going to the stores and seeing the fall displays, and getting excited for Christmas because they put it out too soon. However, there's one thing about this season that gives me nightmares. No, not the scary costumes, horror movies, or haunted houses. It's much more frightening. IT is the truck loads of sugary treats being offered to my children constantly.

Every party, gathering, function, and event seems to bring out the most delectable assortment of tasty goodies known to man. That's just the beginning, we haven't gone trick or treating yet! Ask any kid how they view a successful night of trick or treating and they'll say the more the better! I view the loot as a mountain of sugar, cavities and tummy aches. I read a great article in Family Fun Magazine about what to do with bag full of candy after the kids come in from a long night of door-knocking. One mom suggests having the kids pick out their favorite candies enough to fill a sandwich baggie then leaving the rest by the door for the "Great Pumpkin" to come and take during the night-and then give it to a local food bank. Another mom has the "Sugar Witch" come while the kids are out and leave a little toy or thank you note in place of the candy. I like those ideas, I've tried a few other things like slowly throwing it away, or eating it myself (haha kidding). Avoiding the sugar high this year is my game plan, hopefully my three trick or treaters will play along!