The back-to-school frenzy is upon us. Social media is overflowing with images of freshly groomed kids sporting new kicks. School buses are back on the roads, whisking our little ones away to spend their days with teachers (thank you, educators) while parents rejoice at the thought of no longer having to mediate sibling squabbles or apply sunscreen.
And, of course, the dreaded task of preparing school lunches is back in full swing. The lunchbox has long been a source of frustration for generations of parents. I can only imagine that my mother, while layering bologna on Wonderbread, dreamed of a time when she wouldn’t have to chase after us with brown bags, shouting, “Forget your lunch, and you’ll be starving!”
It’s exhausting enough that our little bundles of joy want breakfast and dinner every single day. Now, we’re expected to shape sandwiches into adorable owls and fit them neatly into a compartmentalized box? No thanks, Bento boxes, and your Pinterest ideals.
Most parents are fed up with the daily lunch prep. (I know some of you are rolling your eyes right now, claiming that it’s a “labor of love” or whatever—seriously.) But for me? Packing lunches brings no thrill, so last year I decided to start a little movement, and I invite you to join me.
I’m reclaiming my mornings, people! My kids are now responsible for their own lunches, and honestly, it’s been a game changer.
The revolution kicked off one chaotic morning when my daughter bolted downstairs, horrified at her lunchbox contents. My crime? I had packed baby carrots instead of her preferred sliced apples. You’d think I had asked her to dip the carrots in motor oil from the way she reacted.
At six-thirty in the morning, with my eyes barely open, I’m supposed to cater to her lunch preferences? Absolutely not.
Our mornings are already a whirlwind with all four of us heading in different directions before sunrise. On those hectic days when we’re running late, I end up sounding like a crazed mom in a bathrobe, scrambling to get everyone out the door. I don’t have time to create gourmet lunches—I’m just handing out juice boxes and Lunchables.
I refuse to send my kids to school with fruit skewers styled after The Very Hungry Caterpillar. If they want something fancy, they can handle it themselves. They are free to create, cut, and mold their meals as they wish, as long as they don’t miss the bus.
Of course, this newfound freedom comes with a few ground rules. Without them, if my kids had their way, their lunches would be nothing but candy bars and sugary drinks. While I’m no longer the ringmaster of the lunch prep circus, I do encourage my kids to make healthier choices.
That’s when I implemented what I call “The Rule of Five.” They need to include one fruit, one veggie, one dairy item, one treat, and one protein. I make sure to keep the fridge stocked with easy-to-access fruits and veggies while I sip my coffee, supervising their lunch-making process.
As for other rules? There are none. Just make your own lunches, kiddos.
Sure, we start the year strong with healthy lunches, but by the end of the school year, it might look like a college student’s late-night snack haul. But honestly, I don’t care. I haven’t peeked into their lunchboxes in ages, and I take pride in my kids stepping up to the challenge.
Since relinquishing the lunch prep duties, our mornings have become much calmer. There are no more complaints about lunch quality because if they forget to secure their Thermos and it spills, I’m not owning that mess. They’ve learned what keeps them full throughout the school day and are starting to avoid empty calories and junk food, realizing how much better they feel when they eat healthy.
And when one of them sighed, “I miss when Mom made lunches,” I just smiled into my coffee and pretended not to hear them. There’s no turning back now.
So, fellow parents, let’s toss those Bento boxes out the window. Step away from the cookie cutters and decorative skewers. Your days of crafting rose-shaped apples are over. Stand firm, show your kids their lunchboxes, and wish them well.
The liberation from creating elaborate lunches feels like pure bliss. Trust me!
For More Information
For more on the journey of parenthood, check out our post on home insemination, and if you’re looking for resources on pregnancy, visit the World Health Organization’s site on pregnancy. If you need tools for your own journey, the experts at Make A Mom have you covered.
Summary
This article discusses the author’s decision to have her kids start making their own school lunches, freeing herself from the stress of daily lunch prep. By implementing the “Rule of Five” to encourage healthy eating, the author notes improvements in morning routines and children’s lunch choices, ultimately leading to a more relaxed household.