It's Not Easy Being . . . chocolate-less

Today is day 3 for my 6 year old to be without chocolate. I even took away hot chocolate. I really like my daughter without the brown stuff. Sure, she still complains when her big sister doesn't live according to her rules, but she's not throwing temper tantrums. Today, the sitter said that she sat and completed all of her homework without complaining or getting up and getting sidetracked. We're going to have to be creative when Feb. 14 rolls around, but I think it can be done. After all, we don't eat a ton of candy here, just enough. We still have Halloween candy around and Christmas candy. (I think it's time to toss it!)

I'm dealing with other issues with my 8 year old. She spent all day yesterday in pre-pubescent turmoil. When I was 8 hormones hadn't entered the picture yet, but according to studies, girls are developing MUCH EARLIER than when I was a little girl. A friend of mine told me yesterday she noticed "buds" on her 7 year old and went out and bought her a bra-let. I had to buy deodorant for my oldest when she was 6. And while people blame it on the growth hormones in food, I have another friend who has never given her child anything that wasn't organically grown and it's been completely vegetarian, yet here is her 10 year old entering puberty. There's something in the genetic pool or the air or something that is lowering our biological age of reproduction and it's really freaky. So anyway, I'm trying to figure out how to care like a loving mom for my little girl when she's got big girl feelings and emotions, not to mention how to help other adults do the same.