Tackle it Tuesday – Organize
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR RUBY TUESDAY / CATS ON TUESDAY
One of the chores that I hate most in the world, is one that I have been doing for approximately 20 years. It’s making packed lunches for the children. There is such an air of hopelessness associated with the whole exercise. Nutritious, home-made organic food is either thrown in the bin at school or returned back home untouched and inedible after a day in the heat. Not eating between 7:30 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon, is not considered a hardship. Eating what I had provided, fell into the category of torture. Better and easier to starve.
I often thought it would be simpler to admit defeat and allow them to indulge in whatever the school provided. However the cost for three children as well as the choices available, have prevented me from taking this tempting step.
Instead I decided to alter my expectations.
I decided to compromise.
The first step was to come to terms with my children’s limitations. At the current state of play I could pour chocolate sauce on everything and they still would refuse to eat. Better to choose food where there is at least the possibility of consumption.
Since we are also trying to teach independence and kick start their executive function, a PEC board of choices provided the visual stimulation to enable choice. The PECs corresponded to the three baskets of foodstuffs at their eye sight level.
The long term goal is to reduce stress, smooth over the bumpy bits and achieve task completion. Since it is only the beginning of the year, we have quite a bit of practicing to do. Every time they complete the exercise, it becomes easier. I fully anticipate that by the end of this school year, this is one less chore than I will have successfully delegated to my offspring, if not sooner.
If we continue to follow our current trajectory, I expect that I shall be choreless before I am very much older.
Then I shall spend my time in the ‘help wanted’ classified ads looking for gainful employment.
Cheers dears
September 15th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I love this idea! What a great way to give them ownership over their own choices, and hopefully that helps encourage them to actually eat what’s in their lunch, since they packed it themselves
.
September 16th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Oh BRILLIANT idea Maddy! Although I would still have to make their sandwiches, if I left it to my boys, they would have chocolate sandwiches everyday!
September 16th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I love that you give them ownership too. My two fuss-budgets get the same safe lunch every day, less whining from them, less stress for me. I assume at some stage they will complain about their boring lunches, then I can try your system!
September 16th, 2008 at 5:44 am
That’s an excellent system you’ve got going there! I may have to adopt that idea! I usually give them choices about what to eat, but I still do all the fixing and packing. They could probably handle lost of that on their own. Thanks for sharing this!
September 16th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Must be beautiful being a parent and having so much impact one ones life.
Independence is a big deal. I wish you the best of luck with your employment search. I know its tough out there with the market so bad and all.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Brilliant idea! I will have to give that one a go too.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:45 am
You are my PECs-pushin’, lunch-packin’ hero.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Well you could emphasize problem solving skills on your resume! I’d hire you in a second if I managed a business. : ) It’s great that you are encouraging independence. I have two now that are getting lunches at school and that’s not very budget friendly. One of them wouldn’t take kindly to switching from school lunches to packed ones because he’s been getting lunches at school for years. He seems to hypo sensitive to taste and will eat just about anything.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Love this system! What a creative way to solve a problem and help your children become a little more independent all at the same time. Thanks for sharing!
September 16th, 2008 at 7:59 am
wow! where the heck were you with this idea 30 years ago when i had to do this! brilliant is an understatement! plus when they choose it themselves they will probably actually eat it! i am telling my daughter about this!
smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
September 16th, 2008 at 8:51 am
What a great tackle and a great idea!!
September 16th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Oh the drudgery of the seldom eaten sack lunch! Add to your list a school district that gives the kids 10 minutes to eat and clean-up and a lunch lady who make “remarks” about what they did or didn’t bring in their lunch – all dutifully reported at the end of the day by one Diva Frog.
By the end of last year I had her packing her own lunch except for the hot entree in the thermos. Today she told me that she knows how to make spaghetti herself.
The day will come, Maddy, the day will come!
September 16th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Wonderful Maddy! I am going to hire you to run my life.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:09 am
I think you’re a genius.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Ohhhh, I might have to give your system a try. I’m tired of seeing the lunch I pack come back uneaten at the end of the day….
September 16th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
What a fab idea!!!!
September 16th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Brilliant. You are my hero! Making lunches is also the nadir of my day – and helpfully occurs so early! If I could get them making their own, it would be fantastic.
I have finally determined what will be eaten by whom. However, the meds for son #1 make his appetite very questionable. He likes his lunch, but routinely comes home without eating it.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I think I will have to try this one here. Why am I doing all the work myself?? I want to be out of a job too (not really, but there are some things I am ready to be done with)!