Sometimes you don't even realize that something stresses you out until it slips out of your mouth one day. I was talking to a couple of moms after the kids' school yesterday, and we were talking about their fall break (a week off in October basically). I was saying that it will be nice to have a break from driving them to school AND from making lunches. The second I said it, I realized that unconsciously I've been stressed about their lunches every day (on top of all last year for Ava). The real reason why is a bit embarrassing, but I'll share......when Ava went to school the first time last year, I packed her lunch happily, didn't think all that much of it. A few days went by, and then I got the "talking to". I got the stereotypical "pull aside" from Ava's teacher where she somewhat tactfully tried to explain that I was basically doing it WRONG!!!!! I remember being embarrassed and thinking, "great, I'm totally one of those mother's who doesn't know nutrition and can't pack a lunch, I'm labeled forever"! A little amusing now, but at the time, it was sort of embarrassing. I guess I hadn't packed a vegetable, or a sandwich (because Ava never ate them) and there were some fruit snacks or something too sugary. I can't quite remember, but all I know is that I had been clueless to the lunch box silent rules and I was brutally clued in. I also hadn't packed ENOUGH food, so apparently unbeknown to me I was starving my child (in my mind I figured since I picked her up at 12:30, how hungry could she get??)
Anyway, until yesterday I didn't realize that I had unconsciously been trying to compensate ever since I was reprimanded. Every day I spend more energy than necessary worrying about making the perfectly balanced and interesting lunch....so that my children don't starve or become physically unhealthy in the 4 hour period they are at school (and so the teachers know I'm not a bad or unfit mother)!!! Pretty insane especially since 97% of the time they don't eat nearly all of it.
What was nice is that the other moms whom I divulged this tidbit of info, then in turn shared their little "run-ins". One gal had a "husband" who bought a Lunchable (I suspect it might have been her but she was blaming him-- but at least she admitted it in the first place), and sent their kid to school with it only to get a "pull-aside" explaining that "we didn't eat those here"!!!! It is always refreshing to know that you aren't always the outcast freak you think you are, that is why it is so vital to speak to women and have candid normal conversations, free of all the "I'm trying to be picture perfect" facades! It helps you keep your sanity and release your stress!
Signed, ME {lv}
LV, do you ever read Dooce? If not, you should check out her great blog. This one (http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/09_20_2007.html) reminded me of your post. ~M
Posted by: Meredith | September 24, 2007 at 05:06 PM