“Lunch time!” I announce cheerfully. My kids rush in (after finally remembering to wash their hands, of course), eager to sample my latest culinary creation. They take their seats without a fuss (never a dispute over seating arrangements, naturally) and beam at me while I serve their meal. As they take their first bites, they exclaim, “This is amazing, Mom! Thank you for making this!” They clear their plates (always in an orderly fashion) before asking to be excused. Once given permission, they promptly put away their dishes in the dishwasher (no reminders needed) and dive back into their imaginative play.
But let’s be real—this is not what lunch looks like in my home. Kids will be kids. They often forget to wash their hands, no matter how many times I remind them. They bicker over who gets to sit where. More food ends up on the table than in their mouths, and they go through phases where they refuse anything green or insist on only eating things that start with the letter “P.”
It is what it is. And let’s be honest: I’m not exactly a culinary whiz myself at this stage. As a busy parent, whipping up gourmet meals every day isn’t a reality. I do my best, but meal times can often go awry. Here are some highlights of what a typical lunch looks like at my place:
- I decide to explore global cuisines each day. Day 1: Tacos (Nailed it!) Day 2: Pad Thai (“Uh, Mom, that sauce looks kind of strange.”) Day 3: Sushi and seaweed salad (TOTAL REBELLION) Day 4: Back to plain old sandwiches.
- I whip up peanut butter and jelly for my younger kids but forget that my daughter prefers her sandwich cut into squares while my son likes triangles. They could swap, but one loves strawberry jam while the other is all about apricot. I’ve tried to explain that sandwiches taste the same no matter how they’re cut, but they’re not buying it.
- On a particularly hectic day, I opt for simple snack foods for lunch. While some might call it lazy, I see it as genius. It minimizes dishes (no utensils needed!) and the kids enjoy it. My go-to is Mini Babybel cheese, served with apples, cucumber and carrot sticks, nuts, and some crackers or pita. All the food groups are covered—take that, Julia Child!
- I attempt to create a Pinterest-worthy meal to celebrate my kids’ school achievements and end up with fruit skewers that won’t stay put, confetti pasta that turns into a sticky mess, and cupcakes with frosting sliding off because I was too eager to decorate them before they cooled. (Sorry, Julia—I’ve learned my lesson.)
- I pack a lunch for my child with a sweet note from Mom, only to discover that the ice pack has melted, creating a soggy mess. My heartfelt message turns into unreadable ink swirls, leaving my kid wondering why I sent a piece of trash in their lunch.
We’re all just trying to do our best for our children. Sometimes our best is fantastic, and other times it’s just passable. Occasionally, our kids genuinely appreciate our efforts, while at times, they might as well be on an island complaining where we can’t hear them. Some lunches are sit-down affairs, and others are grab-and-go.
And that’s perfectly fine! As long as everyone is fed and happy, that’s what truly counts. Everything else is just icing on the cake (which should definitely be cooled before frosting—lesson learned).
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In summary, while lunch times may not always go as planned, the key is to keep things fun and light-hearted. Every effort counts, even if it doesn’t always turn out picture-perfect.