The wrapped candy challenge and our in-house lawyer

As I have watched the sugar intake of my boys and the amount of candy that they somehow acquire at school and church, from friends etc.,  Scott and I decided to issue a challenge to the boys to eat no wrapped candy, except for one day a month.  I knew taking out all sugar was impossible, but we thought this may be doable.

Each month they do this, they get a certain amount of money which will be paid to them when they quit.  But, they couldn't just start and stop on a whim when they decided they wanted to earn a few bucks.  The challenge was to go for an entire year, but we also recognized that small increments would be best to see how they do.

3 of the 4 boys accepted the challenge and even one of Chase's friends decided to join in.  Taylor opted out.  We then had to discuss what wrapped candy meant.  That was more difficult than we thought.  What about candy not in it's original form?  In a shake?  Fruit snacks? In a cookie? Gum?  Even after we established the rules, including a talk on the importance of honesty,  it was and still is not uncommon for one of them to say something like,  "Mom, is a donut wrapped candy?"


We are 2 months into it and so far (as far as I know) all 3 boys are still in.  Chase's teacher commented to me at parent teacher conference that Chase says no to all the candy that is offered to him.

Now, onto the lawyer part.

About a month into it, Owen came home from school with something in his mouth.  I asked what it was and he non-guiltily said a Hi-Chew.  "Owen, that is a wrapped candy," I said.  He then proceeded to argue with me rather forcefully that a Hi-Chew is a fruit, not a candy.  I laughed at first, but as I continued to assert rather forcefully that a Hi-Chew was most certainly not a fruit, he got even more adamant in his stance.  "But Mom, there's a piece of fruit on the wrapper!  That means it's a fruit!" he argued, with tears running down his face.   He wouldn't budge an inch.  Any lawyer would have been proud.

What I first thought was funny, turned ridiculous and then I found myself getting irritated that he was so insistent.  I started to raise my voice and argue right back.  After a few minutes of both of us arguing our sides and both of us getting more and more upset, I stopped short and just started laughing.  Why on earth am I arguing about this?  Hi-Chews are a wrapped candy.  End of story.

Truthfully, I think he just didn't want to lose the challenge so quick and was resorting to anything he could come up with.

So, the challenge goes on.  I gave him a warning, and his other 2 brothers who were ready to declare that Owen was defeated, I silenced with "the look".  Their turn will come when they ask for mercy.