Today the boys had cereal for their snack (eh, they almost always have cereal for their snack — it’s fortified, so it seems healthy. Do not judge). This week, they choose Corn Pops (Henry) and Cap’n Crunch (Charlie) (again, DO NOT JUDGE).

So I’m telling them, as I always do, that I remember when Corn Pops were Sugar Pops. “And there was another cereal,” I say, “called Super Sugar Crisp, but now it’s called something else, without ’sugar’ in the name.”

And Henry sighs and rolls his eyes and says, “Yes, I know, you’ve told us a million times.” Yes, well, I owe you, son, for the constant Star Wars plot recaps.

November 2006

Anyway, remember when sugar cereal wasn’t a big deal? I do! My brother and I used to get up on the weekends and get our own cereal and take it in the den and watch television. My mother would leave the bowls out and put the milk in a little pitcher, instead of letting us pour out of the big jug. The rule was that we were not supposed to wake my parents up until 9:00 am; until then, it was all cartoons and sugar cereal.

The 70s were great, man.

1. Life. Mikey liked it! And no, he did not die from eating Pop Rocks and drinking Coke.

2. Lucky Charms. They’re magically delicious, you know, because they have marshmallows in the cereal!

3. Cap’n Crunch. But not with those weird berry things, just the plain cereal.

4. Cocoa Puffs. Chocolate milk! In the bowl! Perfect.

5. Apple Jacks. Do they even still make those? My brother loved Apple Jacks.

Some days, I think that the best reason to have kids is the cereal. Truly.

What’s your favorite sugary breakfast treat? Or are you a Grape Nuts in the morning type? (Nothing against the Grape Nuts — they’re delicious. Especially with sugar.)