I fear I made a mistake this Halloween season.
Or not. It depends on how you look at it.
In passing, I mentioned the existence of a Candy Monster.
I was putting up our Halloween decorations and I was left with two cute bags that I decided to hang on my boys’ bedroom doors.
“Mom, why did you put the bags on our doors?” asked Biz.
“So the Candy Monster can come by and put candy in it,” I replied.
I didn’t think much of it. I like to mess with Biz. He’s sarcastic, like I am. He’ll pretend he’s afraid of the dark because he doesn’t want to walk up the stairs for something, and I’ll tell him to turn on the lights so the monsters won’t get him. I’m supportive like that.
I’m going to have to explain a lot to his future teachers. My guess is that about 50% of what he says is truth, while the other 50% is just made up to see if people will believe him.
They usually do believe him. He’s a good storyteller.
I didn’t think much of the comment until a day or two later when my husband noted that Biz had been checking his bag to see if anything was in it. After telling G about the Candy Monster, he started looking too.
They mentioned the Candy Monster a few times before Halloween. I was vague about the Candy Monster’s existence.
“I don’t know if the Candy Monster is real or if he’s good or bad. He might leave you candy or steal your candy. You never know.”
I felt a bit guilty about that comment until I remembered Elfie. If that stupid elf can keep my kids from misbehaving during the holiday season as long as I remembered to move him (or come up with a good enough excuse for his lack of movement), maybe a candy stealing monster wasn’t so bad. Especially with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in the house.
Did I just come up with a million dollar idea? Could the Candy Monster be the next Elf on the Shelf? The thing that everyone thinks they want until they find out too late that they’re stuck with a new holiday tradition until their kids are old enough to figure out that it’s all a big ruse?
Or maybe it could be the opposite of Elf on the Shelf. The Candy Monster could justify moms and dads eating their kids candy while they sleep.
Still, I’m not sure I have the energy for another lie holiday tradition to keep up for my kids.
I ended up putting a piece of candy in each of the bags the night before Halloween.
I’m not sure they would have remembered to check had I not mention the fact that it was Halloween morning and the Candy Monster just may have been in the area.
Will they remember the Candy Monster next year? That remains to be seen.

What do you think? Should I keep it up or hope they forget about the Candy Monster all together?

p.s. Don’t be stealing the Candy Monster idea and selling it to investors. Not without me, anyway.