My oldest daughter started preschool and let me tell you, it’s hard. It’s so unbelievably hard, people. I don’t know how you parents with school aged children do it. I’m not sure I’m cut out for this.
I’m talking about lunches.
They have become the bane of my existence. I am constantly worrying, fretting, thinking about lunches.
My child eats nothing. Nothing.
Nothing I buy and especially nothing I make.
Every day she comes home with an untouched lunch bag.
A lunch bag that I so painstakingly packed with careful thought and deliberation. Not that my child cares about that. At all.
I’ve tried everything. Creative faces, fancy skewers, easy to eat, fun sized, finger foods, colourful, bland, flavourful, hot, cold, warm. Everything and still, nothing.
I’ve searched countless websites for lunch ideas that might work. I’ve Googled endlessly. I’ve scoured Pinterest. I’ve tweeted. I’ve posted on Facebook. Everything and still…..nothing.
I’ve tried her favourite food and I’ve tried new, interesting food. It’s to no avail.
Argh.
I’m at wit’s end. I have no idea what to do anymore and I’m only a month into the school year. This doesn’t bode well for the future months.
I can get her to eat a fairly big breakfast before school and she’s starving after school but lunch? Nope, not happening.
Her teachers tell me not to worry. Her pediatrician tells me not to worry. Her father tells me not to worry.
But I’m a mother. I worry.
I wonder how she’s getting through all those hours without eating a proper meal. I wonder if it’s hindering her learning. I wonder if it’s impacting her experience. I wonder if it's setting her up to fail.
I wonder if I just make awful lunches.
I can’t be the only one, can I? Surely some of you also have this dilemma in the evenings (if you’re a meticulous planner) or in the mornings (if you’re like me and not such a meticulous planner).
Any secrets? Any tips?
Anything at all?
I’ll pay you in sandwiches (Pinterest worthy if you look at them cross-eyed).
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