So, it finally happened—the moment I had been fearing. Yesterday, my beloved daughter hopped off the school bus complaining about the lack of creativity in her packed lunches. My first thought was, “Oh no, has she been scrolling through Pinterest?” My second thought was, “Time to adjust those parental controls to include Pinterest.”
It turns out, a more ambitious mother has been sending her kid to school with a lunchbox filled with whimsical, themed treats, complete with Disney-inspired goodies and fun-shaped veggies. And my daughter, Mia, has taken note of this. Thanks a lot, mysterious mom. Thanks. A. Lot.
According to Mia, she spent Wednesday lunchtime watching little Lily munch on a perfectly crafted Elsa-inspired noodle dish while Mia sat there with a zip-lock bag of pretzels and a side of disappointment. Her story was truly heart-wrenching. So, like any guilt-ridden mom, I decided to attempt this daunting Bento Lunch trend.
I promised Mia an Olaf-themed lunch, but when I glanced at the first three ingredients—Japanese Nori noodles, purple seaweed, and edible modeling clay—I thought, “Oh heeeellll no!” Packing a lunch shouldn’t require me to scour specialty stores. I haven’t even had time to shave in days, and I’m not about to drive around town to find gourmet fare just for my five-year-old to toss aside.
But I had promised her an Olaf lunch, so I needed a Plan B. Unfortunately, I had no backup plan… until I downed a couple of glasses of 2009 Cabernet from Napa Valley.
Introducing the “I don’t have time for that. Here’s some lunch money” Bento Box
So, to all the exhausted, not-so-perfect mothers out there, let me present my “Damn you, Lily’s mom!” solution to this absurd and time-consuming lunch trend:
- Retrieve lunch money from your purse.
- Arrange money and secure it with tape.
- Use a Sharpie to add a little flair.
Forget about crafting broccoli trees with an “I love you!” intricately carved into their stalks while juggling your sanity and remembering your insurance provider’s mental health copay. No thanks. Instead, my “I don’t have time for that. Here’s some lunch money” Bento Boxes become the perfect canvas for genuine communication between you and your child:
- Addressing potty training issues.
- Offering friendship advice.
- Holding them accountable.
I understand that the “I don’t have time for that. Here’s some lunch money” Bento Box requires a modicum of effort on your part, which is something I typically resist. But just imagine the look on your child’s face when they discover something like this in their lunch:
“Fears of spiders, conquered. Thanks, Mom!”
Ladies, even if your child opts for cafeteria food, I’m here on my kitchen floor, urging you to step away from the melon baller and embrace the beautiful simplicity of a classic square cheese sandwich. After all, you don’t need to win the “MOM OF THE YEAR” award because, in your child’s eyes, you’ve already achieved that title.
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In summary, don’t stress about creating elaborate lunches; sometimes, a simple note with lunch money is all it takes to connect with your child.
Keyphrase: Bento Box Lunch Ideas
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