Menu | Parenting
By Samantha Parker
Updated: Aug. 19, 2023
Originally Published: Aug. 27, 2017
The back-to-school season is upon us, and social media is buzzing with images of freshly pressed kids sporting their brand-new shoes. School buses are back on the streets, whisking our little ones away to learn from their teachers (thank you, educators!) while parents rejoice at the prospect of a break from sibling squabbles and sunscreen application.
And, of course, the perennial grumbling about school lunches has begun.
The lunchbox dilemma has frustrated mothers for generations. I’m pretty sure that as my mom slapped bologna onto white bread, she too daydreamed about a day when she wouldn’t have to chase after us with brown bags, warning, “Forget your lunch and you’ll be starving!”
As if managing breakfast and dinner every day isn’t enough, now there’s pressure to craft sandwiches shaped like owls and fit them into perfectly arranged boxes. Forget you, Bento boxes and your Pinterest-perfect ideals.
Many mothers are simply fed up with making lunches. (Okay, maybe not everyone. I see you, internet commenters, who claim it’s a “labor of love” or other sentimental nonsense. Seriously?) But for me? Packing lunches isn’t my idea of joy, so I initiated a little revolution last year—and I invite you to join me.
I’m reclaiming my mornings, people! My kids are now responsible for making their own lunches, and let me tell you, it’s incredibly liberating.
This grassroots movement began when my son stormed down the stairs one morning, horrified to find I had packed celery sticks instead of his beloved apple slices. You’d think I had committed a serious crime based on his reaction.
It’s six-thirty in the morning, and I’m half-awake, yet he has strong opinions about lunch ingredients? Oh, no way.
Our mornings are chaotic as it is, with all four of us scrambling in different directions before dawn even breaks. When we’re running late, I find myself playing the role of the frazzled mom in a bathrobe, barely able to hand my kids a juice box and a pre-packed Lunchable as they dash out the door.
I have no intention of sending my kids off with fruit skewers shaped like the Very Hungry Caterpillar. I need way more caffeine and cash if sandwich artistry is on the table. So if they want gourmet lunches, that’s on them. They’re free to shape and create their meals as they see fit, as long as they don’t miss the bus.
Of course, letting kids take the reins on lunch prep requires some planning and guidelines. Otherwise, if your kids are anything like mine, their lunches would consist solely of candy bars and soda. While I’ve stepped back from the morning lunch chaos, I still encourage healthy eating habits.
That’s where my “Rule of Five” comes into play. Each child must include one fruit, one vegetable, one dairy item, one treat, and one protein in their lunch. I contribute by keeping the fridge stocked with accessible fruits and veggies, and I remain in the kitchen, sipping my coffee while overseeing operations.
As for other rules? There are none. Just make your own darn lunches, kids.
I admit we start strong at the beginning of the school year with healthy lunch options. By the end, though, their lunches often resemble my late-night college snack choices, but honestly, I couldn’t care less. I haven’t opened their lunch boxes in ages, and I’m proud to see them taking responsibility for their meals.
Since I passed the lunch torch, mornings have become far less hectic. There are no complaints about lunch quality, because if they end up with soup they forgot to seal properly, that’s on them—not me. They’ve learned what foods keep them satisfied throughout the day, and they’re naturally gravitating away from junk food as they discover how much better they feel when they eat well.
They’re also starting to realize how much extra time it takes to prepare their meals. So when one of them sighed, “I miss when Mom made lunches,” I just smiled into my coffee and pretended I didn’t hear. There’s no turning back now.
So, moms, join me in tossing those Bento boxes out the window. Step away from the cookie cutters and the decorative skewers. You’ve carved your last rose-shaped apple, mamas. Take a stand. Show your kids their lunch boxes and wish them well.
The freedom of no longer worrying about crafting a cheese scene from Moana is absolutely blissful. Trust me. If you’re looking for more parenting tips, check out this excellent resource on family planning options at Resolve. And if you’re interested in fertility topics, you might find the Fertility Booster for Men post intriguing.
Summary:
As the school year kicks off, one mom recounts her decision to let her children take charge of their own lunch-making. Rather than stressing over perfectly crafted meals, she established a simple guideline encouraging healthy choices while reclaiming her morning routine. The change has brought newfound independence to her kids and a more relaxed atmosphere in the mornings.