Do you know the Chocolate Man?

I fear I have a serious problem on my hands. I noticed it starting to develop a few years ago but laughed it off and turned a blind eye. I mean, he's just a little boy with big brown eyes. I would wipe back the brown crumbs from his cheeks, kiss him and send him on his merry way.

But now? I have a growing boy who can not keep his hands off the chocolate! He can smell it from a mile away. He salivates that the sound of the word. His big brown eyes grow even bigger (if that's possible) when he sees it.

The day after the M&M incident he found more M&Ms and ate them the next day. Later, our friend, Jenny, came over to baby sit. I sat him down in her presence and explained the situation.

"Joseph, I'm leaving now and I'm trusting that you will not get into any chocolate. If you feel like you want some you must ask Jenny first. If you do not, you will be punished. Now, can I trust you to do this?"

He looked at me most sincerely, thought for a second and said, "I think that you should have Jenny watch me closely."

Now there's a man who knows his limits.

Well yesterday we made Valentine's cookies and in the process I found one lone cherry cordial Hershey's kiss in with the sprinkles. The instant I found it Joseph was looking over my shoulder asking, "Where did you get that? Who gets to eat that?"

I explained that since it was Valentine's Day and that it was Daddy's favorite that we would save it for his dinner. Everyone agreed (though I think that I was asked an additional 12 times).

Well, that didn't last. The boy ate the chocolate again! The minute I saw his face I knew it to be true.

Big tears and cries of regret poured fourth, "Monica (he's taken to calling me this lately)....I mean mommy, I'm sorrrrryyyyyy....... Now I'm going to get a spank!"

It was sad and he got spanked. Really, I thought he was cute (though I didn't crack a smile) because I understand. I've been wanting to eat that chocolate all day, too.