The last temptation. . .

I contemplated telling my students about the Challenge before our Valentine's Day celebration today. V-day is the 2nd biggest candy/sweet holiday in my classroom, only second to Christmas (we don't do much for Halloween due to various religious beliefs). I wanted to ask that they only bring their teacher cards and not candy, but another colleague talked me out of it stating that as 3rd graders they may not understand. So I continued the day as usual with the piles of cookies, candy, and cupcakes (we had 3 birthdays today as well). It's flattering to see how excited the kids get when they hand you the big box of Brach's chocolates, not knowing that years of chocolates (among other things) have put you in the shape that you're in. And to an 8 year old, it doesn't register. I am the most beautiful princess of a teacher in most of their eyes, overweight or not (one of the many perks of teaching).

So of course, I was saddled at the end of the day with a heap of fattening, delicious, tempting goodies, enough to last at least a week (in my former life), and the swirling thoughts of what I might do with all my loot. I considered putting it all in the staff room, for the other teachers, but thought better of it as many of them are participating in our own site weight-loss challenge. I didn't want to sabotage anyone's progress as I know first hand how hard it is to maintain this lifestyle. So I bagged it all up and hauled it to my Friday evening small group fellowship/bible study where I knew there would be a number of energetic kids who would be more than willing to divvy up the goods. Nothing better than sugaring up another friend's children for a couple of days. . .

But, I do have a confession to make. There is one treat that I did not part with. One of the kids brought a small silver mailbox (the kind with the red flag on the side) filled with Hershey's Miniatures--Mr. Goodbar, Crackle, Special Dark--all of my favorites. I'm not sure why I didn't pack it up. I haven't eaten any of them, I don't plan on eating any of them, but somewhere in the back of my mind they have become my "in case of emergency, break glass" treats. I'm curious as to why I might do that to myself, and I've not yet truly analyzed it all. But it does seem a little crazy. Don't cha think?