My sons requested and received a candy sandwich for lunch today. That's right, a candy sandwich. One of my better inventions, if I do say so myself. Simply apply peanut butter generously to a slice of bread, add a few M&M's or other small candies, top with another slice of bread, and voila! A candy sandwich.

Now maybe you're thinking, who in her right mind would serve her children candy for a meal? Or worse yet, publicly admit to it? But as an adult, when is the last time you couldn't get something you wanted? We're not talking 10-day Caribbean cruises here, or a weeklong visit to Canyon Ranch, or the latest bauble from Tiffany's. But what about something little?

If I want to start my day with a hot caramel latte, I pile everyone into the car and head for the nearest Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru. If I want a soda with my lunch, there's no one to stop me (besides my mother's voice in my head, perhaps, saying, "Shouldn't you have a glass of milk instead?") And if I decide to stay up an hour later to catch the latest installment of "The Bachelor," there's certainly nobody telling me I must go to bed.

Here are just a few of the things I said no to today, starting with the first request at 6:45 a.m.:

Can we have some glue so we can hang our pictures on the side of the fireplace?

Can we go to my teacher's house?

Can we go ice skating on the pool? (Did somebody put a pool in the back yard when I wasn't looking?)

Look, we women with children try to be good parents and care about our kids' physical and emotional health. One way to help them be emotionally healthy is to allow them to hear yes sometimes, perhaps when they least expect it. Or, after a week of turkey and cheese on whole wheat, to eat a candy sandwich. With chips.