I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy

by Karrin

Late night show host Jimmy Kimmel asked parents to send in recordings of them telling their children that they ate of the Halloween candy. The montage has been floating around the Internet and, like anyone with a keen interest in children development and diet, I can't help but add my two cents.

The kids different degrees of addiction, their relationship to authority, as well as their primitive responses were insightful. Watching the kids cry was an example of sugar withdrawal in action. We are in deep denial as a culture in relationship to sugar and our attachment to it. 

The parents admitted to being "wrong" in eating all the candy and they offered nothing in return.  Most kids didn't see any hope in finding any resolution to their own parents deviant behavior - they didn't negotiate or suggest that their parents replace the candy.  They would rather take the blame and become enabling to their parents rather than stand up to authority and hold them accountable.  

Spoiler Alert: The final two boys were the smart ones.  The older boy kept his composure, his body posture was impeccable, hands behind his head, looking his mom right in the eye.  He actually tried to make his mom feel guilty. The little boy called it straight up, "You sneaky mom!"  I imagine these two would be reminding their mom that she ate all their Halloween candy every time they wanted a treat, for months or possibly even years to come.

Once again, kids are brilliant, they show us who we are, and help us get our priorities straight.

P.S. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when the kids found out their parents were just playing a practical joke on them!