Well, it finally happened—the very thing I feared most. Yesterday, my lovely daughter hopped off the school bus, grumbling about my lack of creativity in her lunch packing. My initial thought? “Oh no, has she discovered Pinterest?” And then, “Time to update our parental controls to block that site!”
It turns out, a more crafty mother (who undoubtedly has a Pinterest account) has been sending her child to school with lunches that resemble scenes from a Disney movie, complete with colorful, themed snacks. My daughter, Mia, noticed and was not impressed. Thanks a lot, mystery mom. Really, thanks.
Mia recounted how her lunch consisted of watching little Ava enjoy her perfectly crafted Olaf sandwich while she sat with a zip-lock bag of pretzels and a hefty dose of disappointment. Heartbreaking, right? So, like any guilt-ridden mom, I decided to dive into this Bento Lunch craze.
I promised Mia an Olaf-themed lunch. However, when I glanced at the recipe, which included Japanese Nori noodles, purple seaweed, and edible modeling clay, I thought, “Oh heck no!” Packing a lunch shouldn’t require scavenging through specialty stores. I haven’t even managed to shave in days, and that needs to be a priority before I start hunting down obscure ingredients for a five-year-old’s lunch!
Since I had promised her an Olaf lunch, I pivoted to Plan B. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a Plan B… until I indulged in a couple of glasses of 2009 Cabernet from Napa Valley.
So, fellow exhausted moms, here’s my solution to this expensive and time-consuming lunch trend: the “I don’t have time for that. Here’s some lunch money” Bento Box.
Step 1:
Retrieve lunch money from your wallet.
Step 2:
Arrange the cash neatly and tape it down.
Step 3:
Use a Sharpie to doodle a fun note.
Forget about crafting broccoli trees or intricate designs with your blood pressure medication on standby. No, thank you! Instead, my “I don’t have time for that. Here’s some lunch money” Bento Boxes provide a simple yet effective way to communicate with your child.
Whether addressing potty training issues, giving friendship advice, or even playfully calling them out, this method works wonders. I understand this approach still requires minimal effort, which isn’t my usual style, but just imagine the joy on your child’s face when they find something like this inside their lunch box: “Arachnophobia, cured! Thanks, Mom!”
Ladies, even if your child opts to buy their lunch, I’m down here on my kitchen floor, urging you to step away from the melon baller and embrace the square simplicity of a classic cheese sandwich. After all, you don’t need to earn the “MOM OF THE YEAR” award; to your child, you already hold that title.
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Summary:
The article humorously addresses the stress of creative lunch packing, offering a simple solution for busy parents: giving lunch money instead of crafting elaborate Bento Boxes. It encourages parents to prioritize their time while still communicating love to their children.