Chocolate Bites Back

By Ren

Chocolate. What most six year olds want. In any form, anywhere. On the ground? Eat it. In someone’s mouth or given by a stranger? Eat it! It was a magical substance that was close to television. I was like all of the six year olds. I really really Wanted CHOCOLATE. 

Now, my mom was very strict about my sugar. Like once, I was trick or treating, and I got 50 pieces, but unfortunately, my mom made me keep 20 pieces, and I had to donate the rest to charity. I thank her for that now. She always said, “You will thank me when you get older!” I mean, in reality, she helped me not get diabetes, but it was maddening, not getting my daily sugar intake. 

Once, in my house when I was five, my mom was on a work call, so I, thinking I am SOOooOOooo cool, being rebellious and all, I hijacked the cupboard. It was very hard to get to, because it was about 4-5 feet in the air. Bang! Crash! Clang!  As I tried to get that melty, delicious chocolate, I fell. Minor setback, my brain said. I tried again. BANG! My mom was getting suspicious! I had to go fast. James Bond adventure music was in my head. I climbed up to the cupboard, and I GOT THE CHOCOLATE! I was about to take a bite, when I realized that it was dark chocolate! Y’know, the not-satisfying kind of chocolate that leaves you with a sour taste and wanting water. I screamed mentally for about 5 minutes. 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 

All my hard work was for nothing! 

I took a bite anyway, and it was at that point that I noticed my mom standing there. Her face went through about six emotions in two seconds. I made a run for it, to my bedroom, but on my way there, I slipped and hurt my shins. While my mom got an ice pack, I wondered, was this really worth it? With chocolate smeared on my face, I told her all about what happened. The sneaking, the crashing, everything. This was when I learned to be more careful around candy. I needed to find a way to eat it pacing and mindfully.

Now, back before I loved candy, when I was about 3, I saw this shiny thing that looked like a red cherry or candy. So I put it in my mouth and swallowed it. Bad mistake. It turns out I had swallowed a ruby that was worth about $200. My mom checked my poo every day, but never found it. My brain registered that not everything looks as if it is, and I needed to wait before eating anything.

Another time, when I was 7, when I loved candy, It was after Easter, and my mom had a treasure hunt for candy, and I went all around my house: In my bedroom, my closet, the bathroom, the other bathroom, my mom’s bedroom, my mom’s closet, my dad’s bedroom, my dad’s closet, under my bed, and that’s where I found it. It was a giant, absolutely huge chocolate bunny. I spent so long eating that thing; it was so ridiculous. At the final bite, I was really buzzed on sugar. I needed to find a way to eat sugar with mindfulness and patience.

When I finally got permission to go places without guardians, I went to a boba place that was really expensive for almost a full 3 months. Each boba drink had set me back about $7.00. It was really expensive. I had no more money. So what does an 11 year old do when he has no money? He earns some more money by washing windows, cleaning cars, etc. Only, I was really lazy. So I didn’t bother. 

Now, I am better at controlling my impulses, and I have more patience. I have been practicing mindfulness by taking deep breaths, and doing everything with a lot of awareness. This gives me opportunities to be mindful of candy and other things.