Packing lunches can easily rival bedtime as one of the least enjoyable tasks of parenting. I can’t be the only one who feels this way. When I think about the countless lunches I’ll prepare during my kids’ upbringing—around 6,472, give or take—I question my decision to have three children, especially when I’m whipping these up before my caffeine fix kicks in. As I dive into this daily chore, my mind fills with a whirlwind of thoughts:
- Why didn’t I just prepare these last night? Seriously, Jamie?
- How long has that bag of crackers been stashed in here? sniff Smells fine!
- Is that slimy turkey slice “bad” slime or just normal turkey slime?
- Does mustard count as a vegetable? It’s yellow, so it should get at least half a point!
- They’re going to ignore the lettuce in this sandwich, aren’t they? Yep, they’ll just toss it aside, but in it goes anyway—gotta keep the veggies in there.
- Reminder: Never let mac and cheese sit in the Thermos overnight. Gross!
- Protein? Check. Carbs? Check. Veggies? Check. And those prepackaged cookies that will undo all my healthy efforts? Yup, check!
- Use-by, sell-by, best-by—those are merely suggestions, right?
- That dad who crafts bento box lunches that look like scenes from animated movies? Yeah, that’s not me.
- I really should be the kind of mom who slips sweet notes into my kids’ lunches. Mine would read: “Dear child—I love you more than you can imagine. Now, please eat your lettuce. Love, Mom.”
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In summary, making lunch for my kids is a daily mental marathon, filled with a mix of practicality and a dash of humor. Between worrying about the freshness of ingredients and hoping they eat their veggies, I remind myself that this is all part of the parenting adventure.