Teach a child to fish…

Casey was really good last year to get himself up and out the door by himself. I would wake up when I heard the front door close. I know what you are thinking…a good mom would wake her child, cook a nutritious breakfast, pack a lunch, kiss their forehead and offer words of encouragement before they head off to school. That’s what I think, too. Unfortunately, my good intentions never made it out of my head.

But this year, with two kids getting up before the crack of dawn, I decided I should turn over new leaf. Hmmm. Well, I think I got up early for the first couple days. I’ve never been good with routine. Ever. But I am proud to say we implemented a new routine and have stuck with it for a whole month! I’m pretty sure that’s a record around here.

We have been making the kids pack their own lunch the night before school. Since Casey was in kindergarten, I’ve been making lunches every morning. I don’t mind it, but mornings are sometimes hectic. Yes, I could make them the night before, but by the time dinner is cleaned up I’m tired and it’s time for the bedtime routine. (there’s that ‘R’ word again.) Not to mention, what I pack is not always what they want to eat. 

So we’ve taken the approach of teaching them how to make their own lunches. You know, a lifelong skill. I realized for years, I was only feeding them for a meal. Now, I’m feeding them for a lifetime.

Let’s take a look at the lifelong skills my children are learning.

Here is Nathan’s lunch:

Clockwise from the top: a whole carrot, unpeeled (yes, my kids like them better that way.) peach yogurt, pear halves, Mini Nilla Wafers, an apple, a s’mores granola bar, and a PB&J.

 

And here’s Hannah’s lunch:

Catalina dressing and some spinach leaves.