The other day my seven-year-old daughter had a field trip. But that wasn’t what she was looking forward to. No, she was rabid for the Lunchable we promised to get her for said trip, because usually mom says ixnay on the cardboard/unreadable ingredients/nary a healthy thing in the boxed “lunch.” However, for a field trip, we let them choose. All week she would remind me to please get the Lunchable and did I have the Lunchable yet? Even after it was purchased, she continued to remind me of when she would eat it, how she would eat it, and that when eating it, unfortunately, she would not be able to share the unreadable ingredient smoothie that now accompanied the totable lunch.
On the morning of the trip, I was ecstatic. Not for the actual field trip, but to get the Lunchable out of my house. About 20 minutes after my children had left for the bus, I get a frantic call from my other daughter telling me our youngest has forgotten THE LUNCHABLE, and that the bus will be leaving in a few minutes for the field trip. Racing to dress my baby (winter clothing, mind you), strap him in the car seat, and lug the suitcase known as my diaper bag down the stairs, the phone rings yet again. This time it’s my Lunchable daughter, desperate for me to bring the box. After promising not to miss the bus, I race to the school, hand it off to my husband who, for a special daddy-daughter day, is going on the trip. Whew. She will really, really enjoy this Lunchable, I believe.
Later, my husband tells me the sad truth. After the field trip it was lunchtime so he took my daughter to spend the day with him. They went to lunch at a Japanese restaurant. After getting her Lunchable set up beautifully before her, my husband received his delectable chicken, veggies and rice lunch. My daughter paused, looked at her cardboard Lunchable, then proceeded to eat half of my husband’s plate, “just tasting.” Seeing where this is going, my dear hubby orders her a plate and the Lunchable is forgotten (which is exactly what we desire, as well as her paying for the now deceased fodder).
That night, I remarked to my husband, “All that, just for a Lunchable.” And he gently, and wisely, replied, “Hon, it’s the small things that matter to a child.”
Sigh.
Best,
Connie
THANK YOU!! To all who participated in any way in our Primary Children’s Fundraiser! We raised $600 in downloads and donations. A big thanks to participating businesses: Dr. Randy Lundell (women/bioidentical hormones), Dr. Chris Trapnell (orthodontics), Dr. Shaun Briggs (dentistry), Rock Canyon Pharmacy, and Spanish Fork Library. Sharon Goodrich, director of donations at the hospital, extends her gratitude as well and is excited to put the money to use for the children and families at the hospital.
