Attention all my fellow parents of trick or treating children. Have you heard of the Halloween Switch Witch? Please allow me to introduce you. Halloween is here. Also known as the beginning of the end.

To an extent, sugar is rationed in my house. I like to treat my kids, but if I pump my six year old full of processed sugar, it is 1. obviously terrible for him and 2. I’m going to pay for it in SPADES when the sugar crash/whining/tantrums ensue. No, thank you.

So, what to do with the colossal, excessive pile of candy that starts flowing into my house on Halloween??? There’s the school party AND the trick or treating. My rule was enjoy a few pieces Halloween night and then one piece per day. Guess how long one piece per day lasts??? Forever. Or at least until Christmas when it happens all over again, which is followed in short order by Valentine’s Day, with the Easter Bunny driving the caboose of this runaway candy train. There is a giant bowl of junk in my pantry ALL YEAR LONG. I’m not anti-candy. I want my kiddos to enjoy everything fun about being a kid on Halloween, sugar rush and all. I just don’t want it every day.

When I want to treat my kids, I want to bake cookies with them or make homemade ice cream, or take them out for a special treat. But when there is candy in the pantry, he wants that instead. This year, that is all about to change. All  thanks to my genius friend Amanda. Yes, I am also an Amanda. We have been Amanda M. and Amanda S. since kindergarten. Except for that one year I went by Mandy.

Anyway- I digress. She had kids before me and has been a constant sensible parenting sounding board from the day of my first sonogram. I don’t know if she came up with this brilliant solution to the runaway candy train, but I’m going to give her full credit. And without further ado, enter the Halloween Switch Witch. On Halloween night, after the costumes have been worn, the apples have been bobbed, the trick or treating is over and everyone is fast asleep despite the massive sugar intake, the Switch Witch pays a visit.

Allow your kiddos to choose say, 20 pieces (or whatever you deem appropriate) of their favorite candy to save for later, and leave the rest on the kitchen counter. The Switch Witch pays a midnight visit and switches out ALL THAT CANDY for a toy. Or art supplies. Or a book on how to make balloon animals. My child is obsessed with balloon animals.

I asked my son if he ever heard of the Halloween Switch Witch. Nope, but after learning of her existence, he asks weekly if I’ve called to get on her list. He loves the idea. And I love the idea. I don’t have to be a stinker, kill joy parent, and he gets candy AND a book on balloon animals. He’s going to be thrilled.

Now, I am formally taking suggestions as to how to translate the Halloween Switch Witch to Valentines and Easter…..??? I’m all ears- let’s help each other here. Drop comments below. I’m so interested to know how you handle all the holiday sugar.