Well, it finally happened—the moment I’d been trying to avoid. My daughter, Chloe, came home from school yesterday complaining about the lack of creativity in her packed lunches. My first thought? “Oh no, has she discovered Pinterest?” My second thought? “Time to tighten those parental controls!”
It turns out that some supermom (who undoubtedly has a Pinterest profile) has been sending her child to school with a lunchbox brimming with whimsical creations like “Frozen”-themed meals and adorable veggie art. And Chloe has clearly taken notice. Thanks a lot, mysterious mom. Really appreciate it.
According to Chloe, she spent lunchtime watching little Mia enjoy a beautifully crafted lunch featuring a certified organic noodle shaped like Elsa, while Chloe munched on a zip-lock bag of pretzels and a hefty dose of disappointment. Her recounting of the day was truly disheartening. So, like any guilt-ridden parent, I resolved to try my hand at this elaborate Bento lunch thing.
I promised Chloe an Olaf-themed lunch, but when I skimmed through the first few ingredients—Japanese Nori, purple seaweed, and edible modeling clay—I thought, “Oh, absolutely not!” Packing a lunch shouldn’t require a scavenger hunt through specialty grocery stores. I haven’t even shaved in days, and that definitely needs to happen before I start driving around town for gourmet options my five-year-old might not even eat.
So, I was committed to making that Olaf lunch, but I found myself at a loss for a backup plan…until a couple glasses of 2009 Cabernet from Napa gave me some clarity.
Thus, to all the exhausted, imperfect mothers out there, I present my tongue-in-cheek response to this elaborate lunch-making trend: the “I don’t have time for that, here’s some lunch money” Bento Box.
Step 1:
Retrieve lunch money from your purse.
Step 2:
Arrange the money, secure it with tape.
Step 3:
Use a Sharpie to add a personal touch.
Forget about crafting tiny broccoli trees inscribed with heartfelt messages while managing your anxiety levels. No thanks. Unlike an elaborate scene from The Lion King made from graham crackers and caviar, my “I don’t have time for that, here’s some lunch money” Bento Boxes allow for genuine communication between you and your child.
Whether addressing potty training concerns, offering friendship advice, or playfully calling them out, this approach does require a minimal effort—but just imagine your child’s face when they discover something as simple as this in their lunch:
“Thanks, Mom! You’re the best!”
Even if your child opts for school lunch, I’m here on my kitchen floor, pleading with you to abandon the melon baller and embrace the straightforward beauty of a classic cheese sandwich. After all, you don’t need to earn a “MOM OF THE YEAR” award; in your child’s eyes, you already hold that title.
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In summary, don’t let Pinterest-perfect lunches intimidate you. Embrace simplicity and creativity in your own way, because at the end of the day, the bond with your child matters more than the aesthetics of their lunch.