Taste Bud

As part of a calorie controlled diet, and driven by a desire to ensure my child developed a healthy appetite, I restricted his intake of all things sugary, to zilch, during his first 12 months of life.

There was also an ulterior motive in my decision making process, which I admitted later.

I didn’t want him to steal from my sweet stash as he got older.

One lesson I teach and profess to all those close to me, is, always, but always, keep your sweets in your pocket.

I’m also very proud of the letter and compensation package that Swizzles Matlow sent to me, in response to my complaint about empty packets in one of my variety packs.

Ignoring the fact that they wrote addressing a child and I was actually 23.

Add to that list my membership of The Haribo Club.

My sweet tooth library extends to ginger bread, brandy snaps and mint chocolate.

Due to genetics, or toddler I-want-what-you've-got syndrome, I can’t even enjoy a cup of tea without my ginger nuts being pilfered, and duly dunked by tiny fingers.

He even stole my battenburg cake yesterday.

But tonight I found solace. Solace in the form of an After Eight ice-cream.

After a well behaved day, and consumption of all put in front of him, I thought we both deserved a treat during a post tea-time stroll.

Max chose a Fruit Pastilles lolly.

As usual, I expected to have to swop on our walk, if I was lucky, before he'd finished his.

That call duly came, and we swopped.

However, to my immense surprise, I quickly got my excellent choice back, accompanied with words I usually hate, but, tonight, I loved them.

‘Daddy...............I don’t like it.’