I made a pact – with myself and with my newborn child – that
I would do my absolute best to nourish her body with healthy foods. As a full-time working mom who made all of
her baby food, it’s been a commitment.
But, then again, I nursed her for 13 months, so I get commitment and I
remain committed.
With AK in school every day, I pack her lunch the night
before (thanks to T for slapping me upside the head for attempting to pack it
in the morning – and for what reason?!)
Her lunch includes all of the necessities – grains, fruits, veggies,
dairy and protein. Recently, however,
she’s been resisting her veggies. I
know, I know, shocking, huh? I know it’s a phase, so I do what any veggie-loving
momma would do – I put them in everything else.
The Barilla brand of pasta makes pasta with veggies packed
right into it – a full serving of veggies in every serving of pasta. Yes, please.
I put grated carrots in her turkey meatloaf and grated everything into
her pasta sauce (broccoli, carrots, kale, etc…)
I also pack her an organic baby food pouch with fruits and veggies in it
on top of her full lunch every day. That
way, if she ditches the blueberries, I have tricked her by ensuring she gets
those key nutrients in other ways.
So you get it – I pack healthy, I am healthy, blah blah
blah. Then imagine my surprise when I go to unpack AK’s lunch one
day to find this pretty little note from her teachers. “Dear Parent – please remember to pack food
from all food groups for your child’s lunch.”
Included on this pretty little note is a drawing of the five food
groups, just in case I had forgotten.
Forgotten? I am like the
antithesis of forgetting.
Confession alert: I
freaked out. A little. OK, a lot.
I picked up the phone, called T, who is my source of support on
everything baby (Duh. We’re writing this blog together) and I went
off. “Don’t they know…” “Who do they think they are?” “Did they not know what that was????” After I released on her (what are best
friends for) and gave her more than an earful, I took my best fine-tipped
Sharpie and went to town on that pretty little note.
I wrote down everything I had packed, what food group it had
come from and probably inserted just a little bit of attitude. I then put that pretty little note back in
her lunchbox to ensure that they read it the following day.
Fast forward to the following day: AK is home sick from school. In a series of messages to the teachers, I
tell them they won’t see her, they exchange pleasantries regarding her recovery
and then I get up the nerve:
ME: Quick
question: the note that was in AK’s
lunch box yesterday – did I forget something in her lunch? I was surprised, as I am quite cognizant of
what goes into her lunch and consequently her body each and every day. (Yes, this message took restraint. I was still quite heated)
THEM: You are one of
the few parents that do an outstanding job on their child’s lunches. We just had to put this reminder in
everyone’s lunchbox because we don’t want to single any parents out. We are doing this because, sadly, some
parents are not getting the proper nutrients into their children during the
day. And, we assure you that this is in
the best interest of the children.
Therefore, please don’t feel offended.
You make awesome lunches for AK.
Sincerely, AK’s teachers
ME: (Tail between
legs)
Lessons learned:
1. Not every thing from your child’s school is directed at you
personally.
2. Trust yourself and your intentions.
3. For heaven’s sake woman, breathe.
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