As much as I love being an educator, really and truly my greatest joy is being a mom to my four awesome boys. They can frustrate me and tire me at times, but they also amaze me, make me laugh and remind me of how great the smallest things in life can be. One of the things I love to do for them is pack their lunches. Yep, they’re old enough to do it themselves, but I love picking each item and finding new things they might like for lunch. I love that they open their lunchboxes in the afternoon and are reminded in that small way how much they are loved.
Riding home tonight with my 12 year-old, he once again touched my heart and made me laugh. He is so good at making us laugh….
12yo: Thanks for the chili in my lunch today, Mom. It was really good. I sprinkled some of the cheese you gave me on there. My friend really likes cheese and he was hungry. So I let him have the rest.
Me: Well that was very nice of you to share, sweetie.
Devin: Yeah, it’s funny. The kids who have parents who pack their lunches always seem to have enough food. But my friends who pack their own lunch or buy school lunch, they’re always still hungry.
This led us to a discussion of how some houses don’t have as much food as ours and how many families depend on the school lunch because of that. He sat back for a moment and took it all in, shaking his head to show he understood.
After a moment or two of quiet, he said “Yeah, I realize I pretty much eat like a king”.
Oh, that boy! 🙂
Building Bridges 
So sweet! 4 boys…wow. I have one boy and a girl and my son, Alex is FULL of energy! Can’t imagine 4 of them. It’s true- sometimes our kids won’t realize that other children unfortunately don’t have all the same comforts we are lucky to enjoy. Great post!
Yes, when they are all here in the house together, it can be a rocking place! But I wouldn’t change it for anything. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Love this story and the multiple layers in which it shows what kind of mom you are and boys you are raising. You’re doing good work, my friend! 🙂 I’m doing the Slice challenge for the first time this year too!
Thanks, friend!!! Hurray! So glad we will be “slicing” together. Now I’ll get to feel like I talk to you every day 🙂
I just told my daughter we were very middle class, she thought for a second and said, “upper or upper upper middle Mom.” I love that they are grateful.
How do our kids get to be so smart?! 🙂
Your Devin reminds me of my son, Devon. Mine is 16. I love the gentle kindness that your son shows. So unassuming. A lovely moment, surely to be treasured,.
Perhaps it is the name we gave them. It does mean “poet”. Good to hear that even at 16, he will hopefully retain that gentle spirit.
Thank you for sharing this wonderfully poignant conversation with your son.
I love the photo at the top of your blog. And I jus have to say hats off for loving to pack lunch. I know just what you mean about those whose mothers packed had enough- I did it until last year. But, I have to admit that I was tired of it towards the end.
Thanks, Lisa! I took that picture in Scotland. If memory serves, it is at the Culloden Battlefield site.
There are mornings when I get a little tired of the lunch packing. Thank goodness for Lunchables and Uncrutables those mornings 🙂
Oh, this made me tear up. It amazes me how widespread the poverty is. I think our children are so amazing. My daughter amazes me constantly with the things that she can understand beyond her young years. Your son’s reaction is priceless.
Children ARE amazing, aren’t they?!
Teresa… I love this story. My children, like yours, are learning every day how lucky they are to have enough food to eat, warm clothes to see them through the winter, and a house to come home to every day. Packing lunches, though, is one job I absolutely cannot stand. Bravo to you!
I figure if I pack their lunches, I can use that as an excuse to pass off some other household chore I abhor. Like all of them 🙂
Car-ride talks are the best, aren’t they? I wonder if it has something to do with everybody facing straight ahead instead of each other. Does that somehow make it easier for the conversation to flow?
Thanks for this thoughtful “slice.”
It is interesting about those car-ride talks, isn’t it friend? I wonder if it is the not looking or is it the lack of distractions or ability to do anything else? You can’t be cooking dinner or playing on the computer…only sitting there, near each other. Hm…..you always make me think. Thanks for that.
It’s wonderful that he could step back and be grateful. Something I forget at times! I am blessed in my job and my life. Not so everyone. Great reminder from our youngsters – we should be grateful too!
He never ceases to surprise me or to remind me to slow down and be grateful. I try to remind myself of that when he has avoided cleaning his room for the 50th day in a row 🙂
Oh that boy! Love the layers in this piece. Your boys are awesome and I love how you find joy in showing your love for them doing the important everyday things too. Such a blessing.
Thanks, Lee Ann!