As a new mommy I have found that bribery is a handy tool. Though Dr. Spock would probably disagree I find it necessary to get what I want while still offering them something in return. A reward if you will. I believe my three-year-old Cameron would still be in diapers had it not been for her desire to earn a sucker. Each time she would go to the bathroom in the potty she got one piece of candy. As she got smarter, and her bladder got stronger, she found if you just “trickle” a little and save some for later, you could get more sweets. Smart kid that one is. With my youngest; Maggie I was disappointed to find that bribery does not work on ALL kids. She’d as soon slap you as look at you so if you think she cares about a silly sucker you have lost your mind. She is going to do WHAT she wants, WHEN she wants. But I was determined to make her a fan of bribery. So after the Elkin Home coming parade I thought I would put all that candy to good use. I would let her catch the candy, put the candy in a bag, then keep that bag on the kitchen table to remind her of the award system that worked so well for her big sister. Unfortunately, Maggie is also a climber. It only took mommy having one long bath time to figure out that Maggie could not only get the candy off the table but also could unwrap it all and eat it with no one ever being the wiser. Now that it is Halloween, there is lots of candy around again. It is making Maggie very giddy. Cameron is now attending Elkin First Baptist Play School and brought home like ten goody bags of toys and Candy Wednesday from her classmates. Which, by the way, Note to her classmates and parents: I totally dropped the ball. She just started last Monday and I feel like the worst mommy in the world for not having sent treat bags, please forgive me, we’ll do better for Christmas… or maybe I’ll bring some “I’m sorry I forgot Halloween but here are some Daylight Saving Time bags:”…… But so Maggie somehow undid the twisty ties on the treat bags that not even I can get undone without two cups of coffee and an instruction manual and has devoured four Reece Cups by the time I get back in the house with the mail. I know what you must be thinking. You are thinking I need to watch her closer but I swear I was only gone 45 seconds. This kid is a freak of nature. I’m telling ya. I don’t think a surveillance camera could have caught her doing it. Anyway, I write all that to write this. In the five years I’ve lived in our house, we’ve had maybe ten trick or treaters. Please don’t bypass Wisconsin Avenue this year. I know it is really close to West Main and that is the best street to trick or treat ever but if you all leave me with this Candy this year, Maggie’s chocolate overdose will be on your heads. Happy Haunting!

Holly is the Classified Advertising Manager of the Tribune and lives in Elkin.