So it finally happened—the moment I feared the most. My dear daughter, Lucy, hopped off the school bus yesterday, grumbling about the lack of creativity in her packed lunches. My first thought was, “Uh oh, has she been scrolling through Instagram?” Then, I realized, “We really need to tighten our parental controls to include social media.”
It turns out that some supermom (who definitely has an Instagram account) has been sending her daughter to school with a lunchbox brimming with culinary masterpieces, like Mickey Mouse-shaped sandwiches and rainbow fruit skewers. And Lucy has taken notice of this. Thanks a lot, mysterious supermom. Thanks. A. Lot.
According to Lucy, she spent her Wednesday lunchtime watching little Emma nibble on a fancy quinoa salad shaped like a princess, while Lucy sat there with a sad zip-lock bag filled with pretzels and a healthy dose of disappointment. Her heart-wrenching tale tugged at my maternal instincts. So, like any guilt-ridden mom, I decided to dive into this ridiculous Bento Lunch trend.
I promised Lucy an Olaf-themed lunch. But when I glanced at the first few ingredients—Japanese nori, purple seaweed, and edible modeling clay—I thought, “Oh heeeellll no!” Packing a lunch shouldn’t require a trip to specialty food stores or craft shops. I mean, I haven’t even had time to shave in days, and I really don’t want to drive all over town hunting for organic ingredients for my five-year-old’s lunch, only for her to toss it aside.
But a promise is a promise, so I scrambled to find a Plan B. Unfortunately, Plan B didn’t materialize until I poured myself a couple of glasses of 2009 Cabernet. And so, fellow exhausted moms, I present to you my “Take that, Emma’s mom!” answer to this time-consuming lunch trend:
The “I’m Too Busy for This, Here’s Some Lunch Money” Bento Box
- Grab some lunch money from your wallet.
- Arrange the money and tape it down.
- Use a Sharpie to draw some cheerful doodles.
Forget sculpting broccoli trees with “I love you!” meticulously etched into their stalks using an X-Acto knife while juggling your mental health and life responsibilities. No thanks! Instead, my “I’m Too Busy for This, Here’s Some Lunch Money” Bento Boxes provide a blank canvas for genuine communication between you and your child:
- Addressing concerns about bathroom habits
- Offering friendship advice
- Calling them out on their antics
I realize this still requires a tad of effort, but just imagine the look on your child’s face when they open their lunch box and see this masterpiece:
“Arachnophobia, cured. Thanks, Mom!”
Ladies, even if your little one doesn’t buy lunch, I’m down here on my kitchen floor, pleading with you to step away from the melon baller and embrace the simple joy of a basic square cheese sandwich. After all, you don’t need to earn the “MOM OF THE YEAR” title because, let’s face it, you already have it in your child’s eyes.
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Summary
This humorous take on the Bento Box lunch trend highlights the relatable struggles of busy moms trying to keep up with Pinterest-perfect lunches while balancing everyday challenges. The author suggests a more realistic approach—creating a simple, money-based lunch note to maintain connection without the stress of elaborate preparations.