"i have just little bit candy?"

Kris and I try not to indulge Nicky in a lot of candy, or sweets in general.  Not that we deprive the poor kid of any sweeties completely, and we do give him processed foods, etc, so we're not all granola or anything (although that kid does love him some granola!).  We figure we only have so many years that we'll be able to impress upon him the importance of healthy eating, we might as well take advantage of it!  He definitely gets cake and ice-cream on birthdays, and candy at Halloween and in his Christmas stocking.  But, it takes him forever to finish all the candy because his mean parents only let him have one measly piece a day (if that), and only if he doesn't whine/cry/beg for it first!  We're more on the philosophy that it should be a reward, not the norm.  Most of the time it doesn't even occur to Nicky that the candy is even in the jar on the counter.  He's blissfully content eating fruit, yogurt, and applesauce for dessert; carrots, pretzels, fruit, and graham crackers for snack.  There are the random nights when we ask him what he wants for dessert and he says "maybe cake?" - um, no, we only have cake for birthdays - "maybe cupcake?".  Gotta hand it to him - he's trying to work the system...and it's hard to keep a straight face with that kind of comeback!

Anyway, somewhere along the line, a monster was created.  An "I want it and I want it now" kind of monster.  A sweet little "i have just little bit candy?" (said while holding his cute little thumb and forefinger to demonstrate the size) turns into a complete tantrun/meltdown when denied.  Unfortunately, the ol' "just one day of over-indulgence won't hurt" has actually done just that.  Almost every day, the first thing Nicky asks is "i have just little bit candy?"; after school we hear "i have just little bit candy?"; again before dinner "i have just little bit candy?"; after dinner "i have just little bit candy?"; before bed "i have just little bit candy?".  You get the picture.  I know, I know - he just wants a hit of that good, good stuff.  And giving it to him every time he asks only makes him want it more; never giving it to him only makes him want it more; we're just trying to keep the status quo.  It sure is cute when he asks...which I know is his point - I just don't think that he knows, that I know, that he knows!  Parenting sure is fun when you get a "win" for a change! :)