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A frequent critique of today’s youth is that they are overly sheltered and ill-equipped to tackle adulthood’s challenges. While I find this commentary somewhat irritating and unjust, I can’t help but concede that there might be some truth in it. I’m grateful my children haven’t had to endure the horrors of war, famine, or significant loss—beyond the occasional spider scare. Yet, I worry that when real challenges arise, they may not be prepared. One thing is for sure: snacks are likely to be part of the problem.
Yes, parents, this is a genuine concern. The expectation for snacks to materialize in our children’s hands every half hour is fostering a sense of entitlement and the misguided belief that snacks are not just a meal, but an absolute requirement.
I have begrudgingly adapted to the trend of post-game and post-practice snacks. If your child participates in any sport or activity longer than a brief session of blinking, you’re often expected to provide snacks for the group. I still ponder how this became standard practice—back in my day, we played for hours and received a handful of Cheerios afterward. Ah, the joys of suburban life in 2016.
Just when I thought I was on top of the snack game, things evolved further. After my 4-year-old’s weekly “game” (and I use the term loosely), he now receives a snack bag filled with a juice box and at least two treats, like pretzels and fruit snacks. A bag of snacks for toddlers who mostly stand around, picking their noses. Okay, I can roll with that.
Then, I dropped my 6-year-old off at art camp. This camp lasts a mere 90 minutes and is conveniently scheduled between breakfast and lunch. As we checked in, the instructor informed me, “You can put her snack on the counter.”
“What? I’m supposed to bring a snack for her?” I replied, incredulously.
“Well… you don’t have to, but if you want to…” she trailed off. I glanced at the counter, where nine snacks were neatly arranged for ten kids. You do the math.
Although I didn’t believe my daughter needed a snack (she had just eaten breakfast moments ago), I couldn’t let her be the only one without a treat. After all, she’s my only daughter and often gets overshadowed by her older brother’s sports and her younger brother’s tantrums.
“There’s a vending machine downstairs if you’d like to get her something,” the instructor suggested.
Great. I checked the vending machine, which only accepted cash, even in this modern age. Of course, my purse was devoid of any physical currency. But I refused to give up hope. I figured there had to be spare change lurking in the depths of the car.
So, I enlisted my two sons to help me rummage through the van, digging under seats and unearthing random coins that had become stuck to the upholstery, courtesy of long-forgotten fruit snacks. One of them even found a quarter, but it turned out to be a Chuck E. Cheese token—not quite what we needed. After our dedicated search, we finally gathered enough change to buy a snack. Success!
We then drove around aimlessly for an hour since we didn’t have time to return home. When we finally picked her up, my daughter emerged with a big smile and a bag of popcorn from the vending machine that she hadn’t even touched.
Tomorrow, I’ll be prepared with a “real snack” for her short indoor art session. I can only hope that the camp will include a craft project where I can earn a “Mom of the Year” badge, because goodness knows I could use one.
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In summary, the growing expectation for snacks has transformed our children’s lives, leading to a sense of entitlement and, perhaps, a lack of resilience. As parents, we must navigate these evolving norms while ensuring our kids are prepared for life’s actual challenges.