I am a lunch box rock star

So, we are well into this new school year and other than making sure my children stay on top of their homework assignments, I have become completely obsessed with making sure they eat their lunches. Last year I threw away more food than they ate and I am making it my goal to change that around.

When I was growing up, the lunches were real simple: a sandwich, some fruit, a sweet treat or two and a juice box. You either ate it yourself or upgraded with a trade from a friend. You ate your lunch regardless. But, ohh, not my kids. They would come home with the whole lunch uneaten talking about they were hungry.

So in my effort to trick entice my kids to eat their lunches, I did two things. First, I took my husband off of lunch box duty. No offense, but they just weren't into it. Second, I got creative. With the help of Pinterest, I was inspired to make some pretty nice lunches.


Then, as an added bonus, I was complimented by their teacher on how awesome their lunches looked. It was the very next day after my "Mom Shaming" post so my mom swag went up a notch or two.

Here are a few examples of their lunches:

Ham and cheese kabobs, peaches, carrots and ranch, pretzels and cookies

Bologna sandwich, cheese stick, apples and caramel dip and cookies

Bologna sandwich, pretzels, peaches, fruit snack and cookies

With the exception of a few apples and a sandwich, their containers have come home pretty empty. Either the new, improved lunches are a go, or they are giving me the okeydoke and throwing everything away. In any case, I feel like a better parent because my children are getting the food they need to energize their growing brains.

Let me also add that they only get 20 minutes or so for lunch, which can seem like 5 for those children who can't help but to socialize.

Tell me about your lunchbox experience. Do you have any snack ideas or tips? Let me know.

Forever loving my BADD Kids,

Rhonda 

I might be the only mother who dreads back to school time

I feel the tension in my neck just thinking about it. Drill Sergeant mornings commanding my kids to brush there teeth and get ready for school, packing lunches that barely get eaten, traffic with thousands of parents hitting the streets again, trying to make the drop offs and punch the daily clock on time. Not to mention the back to school sales and lists of recommended school supplies that specify Crayola. (I guess the $1 store brand is out of the question.) Budgets become non existent when the perfect backpack is in mind.

Needless to say, back to school time stresses me out. Where are my moments of singing and jumping in the air like they do on the commercials? Those must be stay-at-home moms cause I don't feel that kind of joy. I'm glad that they are learning and socializing, but getting them to school is more than a notion. I've thought several times about homeschooling, but I don't have the patience for that either. This working mom is trying to figure out how to juggle cooking, homework, baths and one on one time with my kids with the 3 hours of time we'll have together in the evenings (bedtime is 8:30).

The good news is that my kids do wonderfully at school. I've been told they are some of the smartest and well behaved children in there classes, so they make it easy for us as parents.  The even better news is that since they are getting older, they can help out. I'm going to have them help fix their own lunches and pick out their clothes the night before. That should also eliminate the "I can't find my shoes" debacle every morning. We'll get our routine together eventually.

So, I guess I'll start the back to school countdown and lift my imaginary glass of sparkling grape juice (it's too early for wine) and toast it up to another healthy, happy and drama free school year.

Forever loving my B.A.D.D. Kids,
  Rhonda

My Superstar Student

So this is the last week of school for my son and he was the superstar student last week. For Monday he had to fill in this poster board that was all about him: his favorite color, food to eat, etc. Tuesday, he brought in his favorite toy to show the class and Wednesday was his favorite book. Then, on Thursday I had to send in a parent letter or poem about him. It could be a funny or special story about him, pictures or a poem. Per his request (he's just like me in that aspect), I wrote a poem with his name as the focus point. Want to hear it, hear it go.

Christopher is my first born child

And he's so special to me.

Keep listening on to my poem 

And you too will see.

C is for creative, he loves to build with his hands.

H is for handsome, his smile is so grand.

R is for responsible, he always does his home work.

I is for imaginative, he has the best looking artwork.

S is for super, he loves to have super hero fun.

T is for taste buds, he also loves to eat honey buns.

O is for obedient, I rarely have to say something twice.

P is for peaceful, he's always so polite.

H is for happy, he is such a happy kid.

E is for entertaining, always showing me something new he did.

R is for radioactive, I only chose this word because,

With all the great things he already is, it would be kinda cool if he was.

-Rhonda 5/27/13

He said the class enjoyed it and laughed at the honey bun part, and the line about being radioactive. It was fun for me too. I got to flex my poetry skills and write about one of my favorite things in the world- my kids. Until next time.

Forever loving my B.A.D.D. Kids!