Halloween Candy Negotiations

Gavin ended up with what he deemed "the mother-load" of all candy this year.  Usually in our home it is a 2-3 day candy free-for-all in the days after Halloween.  However, I was telling my friend the next day that I worried we'd be eating nothing but candy for a week at our house.  (And, I was a little afraid that having it around all the time, I would help with the eating.) She shared an idea of the candy "buy back" that they do every year with their kids.

I love the idea. Gavin loves Legos more than candy.  This is a perfect solution.  Since I have a great attorney, and Gavin is a good negotiator, I thought it better to have Shawn handle the negotiations.  I shared the idea with Shawn, and stepped back to observe the process.

Shawn: Okay Gavin.  Bring your candy in here and put it all on the bed.

Gavin: Okay, but you can only have three. (Easy to be generous when you have a huge bag, and a huge heart to match.)

Shawn: Gavin I was wondering if you'd like me to pay you money for your candy?

Gavin: (A smile creeping across his face) Really? Like actual dollars I can spend?

Shawn: Yes. (Shawn looks at me and we smile at the "actual dollars" comment.  Yes, this kid has us wrapped around his finger.)  I know how much you like to buy Legos, and I was thinking I could buy your candy from you.

Gavin:  I can buy Legos with it?

Shawn: (A smile spreads across Shawn's face) How about I pay you .05 cents for the little ones, and .10 for the big pieces?

Now let me pause and remind you that Gavin has the MOTHER LOAD of all candy.  I estimate that if we purchased his load at .05 cents a piece, we are looking at $75-ish dollars.

Gavin: ALRIGHT!

Shawn: Why don't you sort them into piles of big ones and piles of small ones.

Gavin pours out the candy and begins to sort.  The first hurdle we discover is that he has 4 different sizes of tootsie rolls.  Midget, regular, the thin and long ones and then the thicker 2" ones.  He deems these sizes, small, large, extra large and HUGE.

Gavin: Dad, I think that you should pay me .05, .10, .25, .50 cents for the different sizes of candy.

Shawn looks at Gavin's reasoning and his conclusions. (One of the things that makes Shawn the most perfect Dad for our Gavin!)

Shawn: Sort them first and then we can talk about pricing.

Gavin proceeds to compare the size to his established pricing/size guide.  Somehow the fun size m&m's have just become a .50 cent price point. I am quietly observing the sorting, doing my best to hold the laughter in, and stay out of what is bound to need further negotiation.  My attorney is on retainer and I am confident he is fully equipt to handle it.

Shawn: Well, I wasn't thinking I would pay .50 cents for a candy. (He points to the large pile that has about 40 pieces in it.)  How about I give you $5 for that pile?

Gavin: Okay!  (Obviously not detecting that in his previous calculations it was valued higher.)

Shawn: Tell you what. (Shawn cuts to the chase)  How about $20 for all the candy.

Gavin: Really?  I could buy $20 in Legos?  (Shawn nods) Yes!  (Gavin begins shoving it all back into the bag to hand over to Shawn.  He doesn't keep a single piece.)  Here you go Dad! (He hands it to Shawn, and holds out his hand for the cash.)

Shawn: I don't have a $20 dollar bill. (He looks at me to see if I do.  I shake my head.)  Why don't I bring it home after work tomorrow?

Gavin: Okay.  (He runs off into the other room and returns a moment later with his wallet.)  Here you go Dad.  I am going to leave this on your night stand so you can put the 2-tens and a five in there.

Shawn: Umm...I am only giving you $20 Gavin.  That was the deal. I can give you 2-tens, or a twenty.

Gavin: Well, actually.  You agreed to give me $5 for the one pile and then $20 for the rest of the candy.

There is a pause while Shawn considers. Was that what Gavin thought the deal was when they made it?  Shawn acknowledges the possible confusion and being the honest negotiator, concedes Gavin's point.

Shawn: Okay.  I will bring home the cash tomorrow.  (Gavin starts to leave) Hey, Gavin.  I don't want you to tell the other kids that I bought your candy okay?  I don't want them to feel sad that they can't buy Legos.

Gavin has a habit of telling people what we pay for things.  Like when his teacher touched his shoulder at school.  He told her not to touch his BYU shirt because his mom paid $35 for it. (Yeah, I was so glad I was there for the eyebrow raise that came my way.)

Gavin: Okay Dad.  (He nods and runs off to play.)

The next morning Gavin comes in to my room and checks the wallet. He grunts when he doesn't see the cash.  I smile and remind him that when Dad gets home he will have the money.

We get into the car, pick up the other boys and drive to Gavin's school.  I pull up to the drop off curb and Gavin can't hold it in any longer.  He bursts out with the news!

Gavin: MY DAD BOUGHT MY HALLOWEEN CANDY AND IS GIVING ME $25 DOLLARS TO BUY LEGOS! (he yells.  Then he looks at me sheepishly as the carpool boys look to me for confirmation.)

Mom: Gavin.  I thought you and Dad had a deal.

Gavin: I just couldn't hold it in any longer Mom!  (Then he looks at the boys and bounding out of the car adds) You can't tell anyone else cause it is a secret!