“Lunchtime!” I announce, and my little ones dash in (after washing their hands without a reminder, of course), eager to taste my latest culinary creation. They settle into their chairs without squabbling over who sits where and flash me smiles as I serve their meal. After the first bite, they cheer, “This is amazing, Mom! Thanks for making this!” They polish off every last morsel (neatly, of course) and then ask to be excused. Once I give the nod, they clear their plates and place their dishes in the dishwasher (without any nagging, naturally) before returning to their imaginative play.
But let’s be real—this is not the typical lunch scene in our home. Kids will be kids. They often forget to wash their hands, despite years of daily reminders. They bicker over seating arrangements and can turn any meal into a food fight. Picky eating phases come and go, with one child refusing anything green while the other insists on only foods that start with the letter “M.”
It’s just part of the adventure! As a busy mom, I’m not exactly a culinary maestro either. Whipping up gourmet meals every day simply isn’t feasible. I do my best, but meal times often veer from the plan. Here are some genuine examples of what lunch looks like at our house:
- I try to get adventurous by cooking international dishes each day. Day 1: Tacos (Total win!) Day 2: Pad Thai (“Uh, sorry Mom, but that sauce looks strange.”) Day 3: Sushi and seaweed salad (FULL ON REVOLT) Day 4: Back to good old sandwiches.
- I whip up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for my two younger kids but forget that my daughter prefers hers cut into squares while my son likes triangles. They could swap, but one insists on strawberry jam while the other demands apricot. No reasoning seems to work here!
- On particularly busy days, I opt for simple snack lunches, which some might call lazy, but I view as genius. It minimizes dishes (no utensils needed!), and the kids adore it. My go-to is the delightful Mini Babybel cheese, paired with apples, cucumber, carrot sticks, nuts, and some crackers. All food groups covered—take that, MasterChef!
- I attempt to create a Pinterest-worthy meal to celebrate my kids’ accomplishments at school, only to end up with fruit pinwheels that fall apart, confetti pasta that clumps together from overcooking, and cupcakes adorned with icing that slides off because I frosted them too soon. (Sorry, Julia Child, I won’t let my ego get the best of me again.)
- I pack a lunch for my child and include a sweet note, only to realize later that the ice pack melted, causing condensation to ruin my heartfelt message. My love note ends up looking like a scribbled mess, leaving my child puzzled as to why I included garbage in their lunch.
We’re all trying our best for our children. Sometimes our efforts shine, and other times they simply meet the mark. Occasionally, our kids truly appreciate what we do, and at other times, they seem like they’d rather be on a deserted island. Lunch can be a calm sit-down affair or a quick grab-and-go.
At the end of the day, as long as everyone’s fed and happy, that’s what counts. The rest is just the icing on the cake (which I’ve learned should be cooled completely before frosting!).
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Summary:
Lunchtimes can be chaotic, with kids forgetting handwashing and bickering over food preferences. While I strive to create enjoyable meals, sometimes they miss the mark. The key is to ensure everyone is fed and satisfied, even if it doesn’t always go as planned.