Just say yes

Sometimes it's tough to be a good parent and put a child's welfare before their happiness.

Having to say no, no, no, so often to cute little crying faces is tough.

When my kids were little one of the things I was most strict about was their diet. It was up to me to raise healthy children and I did not take that responsibility lightly. Eating candy and junk food was permitted in limited quantity only on holidays and birthdays.

One day after I had said no, one too many times, I was even sick of myself. I saw myself as one of them and I didn't like me very much. I know. I'm not supposed to be my kids best friend. I'm their parent, but can't we throw caution to the wind once and awhile and create a happy memory?

"Hey kids! I've got a great idea. You know how you hate it when I say no all the time about junk food? What if once a year we pick a date, jump in the car, go to the grocery store and you can buy whatever you want and eat as much of it as you like. Let's call it National Treat Day. Sounds like a holiday, right? And treats are allowed on holidays, right?"

The three of started jumping for joy, laughing out loud, and then they rolled around on the floor smacking into each other like bumper cars.

"Really Mom? Really? When?"

"Now!" I said. "Let's go."

Off we went to our local grocery store. It was like a supermarket sweepstakes game show; how much stuff can you throw in the cart in under five minutes running up and down the candy and cookie isle. I had difficulty keeping them together, but I managed and I have to say, I was every bit as excited as they were. They were not greedy. They agreed on items they would share and would ask each time they picked something if it was okay, even though the rules of the game were a free for all. Yes, yes, yes, I said until the cart was full.

Let's see, I remember Doritos, Skittles, gummy bears, rainbow sherbet, Twinkies, chips ahoy cookies, Vienna fingers and M&M's. There was more, but that was top of the list.

When we got home they were not shy about digging in. The only thing I heard was the rustle of bags and a congenial conversation about the intricacies of extreme junk fooding.

"This was the best day of my life," said my middle child before she threw up, but she still went to bed with a smile on her face in spite of the ache in her belly.

"Thank you," They all said, numerous times. When I told them we would bring what was left to the church down the block, when I saw them slowing down, they said, "Do we have to Mom?" "Yes we have to." And that was it. National Treat Day was over.

We marked the calender and kept the ritual going until they started leaving for college. The day will come and go now and we will make mention of it from time to time and laugh out loud. Today, all three of them, no longer prompted by me, keep to a strict healthy diet. Perhaps I didn't do such a bad job instilling healthy habits in them, in spite of National Treat Day, and because of this I think we all learned a valuable lesson. There are times in life to say no and times in life to say YES.