The Evil Of Valentine's Day

I had totally planned ahead.  I knew there was a Valentine's Day party in the first grade on Friday the 11th, so I prepared.  I made Ben's favorite peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, ordered approved candy from Indie Candy, and took off work early to attend the party myself.  Mostly, it went according to plan. 

A first grade party is a pretty casual affair.  The kids decorated bags to collect their valentines, they all passed out their V-Day cards with assorted treats, the room parents passed out the brightly colored sugar cookies, cupcakes with neon frosting, fruit punch to wash down the other toxins.  I was so incredibly proud of Ben as he said "No thank you" to all the treats, sorted the unapproved candy out of his bag and gave it to his friend Jacob, and offered peanut butter cookies to the rest of the class.  When the party was over, and Ben knew he still had his daycare party to attend, I asked him if he wanted me to drive him to Mrs. P's, or if he'd prefer to take the bus with his friends.  He decided to take the bus since it was Jacob's first time, so I kissed him goodbye and headed to the grocery store. 

And then it hit me.  Like a serious ton of bricks.  HE WENT ON THE BUS WITH JACOB SO HE COULD EAT THE CANDY!  CRAP!  Sure enough, after my grocery shopping I picked the kids up at daycare and immediately noticed Ben's red ears - a dead giveaway of a reaction.  He admitted to me that he ate valentine fruit snacks, but only one pack.  He promised me he wouldn't do it again.  And then on Tuesday he did it again.  And promised me he wouldn't do it again.  And today he did it again.  UGH!!!  All this trouble that we go through to keep his diet clean and one little piece of candy ruins it all. 

So this whole week we've been dealing with rages, emotional outbursts, not listening, aggravating his sister.  It's so frustrating that I just want to put him in a bubble.  My dilemma is that if I punish him, then he won't admit to me when he's eaten off diet.  If I don't punish him, he will obviously continue the behavior.  I truly am just not sure what to do. 

Granted, things would be SO much worse if we weren't eating right the rest of the time - these rages don't last very long and he can usually calm himself down if we remove him from the situation.  Pre-Feingold they would have lasted all night.  So I guess progress, even without perfection, is still a great thing.