Sorry I've been a bad blogger this week. Things have been super busy. My kids started school on Monday, which was bittersweet.
Sweet because conversations like these are over:
Kids: "We're bored."
Me: "That's impossible, because we just spent the past five hours at the water park/swimming pool/beach/zoo/saltwater aquarium superstore/reptile pet store/Burger King indoor play land."
Kids: "Well, we are. Can you log in to Netflix for me?"
Me: "Have you read for 20 minutes yet today?"
Kids: "Yes."
Usually I don't find out until after the movie is over that the books that they counted for their reading minutes are Cameron's picture books, which have, on average, three words per page.
Bitter because we started out the week with six lunchbox ice packs and ended with zero.
Me: "It would be great if you could try not to throw the ice packs away with your lunch wrappers," I told Kellen on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
On Friday I didn't put an ice pack in his lunchbox (because we didn't have any more) and I got a note sent home from the lunch lady reminding me about the importance of food safety.
May the force be with all of you who start school on Monday.
August 20, 2011
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They seriously have time to monitor the kids who bring their lunch? You'd think the lunch ladies would have oranges to slice or beans to stir...
Oh no, not the lunch ladies again! Do they peek in every single child's lunch box or are your kids just the lucky few!? Maybe you could velcro the ice packs in the box, that way they stay where they are when trash is dumped in the trash can but can be taken out to put in the freezer. That should at least keep the lunch monitors away!
Let's hope you lift your game in the food hygiene stakes in week two then.
;-)
I think I would just put a fe ice cubes in a baggie and use that for his ice pack. It's gonna make a bit of a watery mess inside the box but at least you are not wasting $$$ on the store bought ones. KIDS!!!
I have bought enough umbrellas over the years to supply the whole city of San Diego. I SWEAR!!! LOL
I just make them pack a pb&j every day and then I don't have to worry about refrigeration. It might not be healthy but at least it will be safe...or maybe you could just pack a couple of pounds of fruit. Isn't it grapes your kid loves?
Sandy
www.twelvemakesadozen.blogspot.com
send the lunch lady a note to get the freak away from your kid's lunchbox.
wackadoo.
One thing I do, whenever I pack something even remotely perishable is to also pack a yoghurt or a small bottle of water, which I put in the freezer the night before. You end up with an instant ice pack, thus your lunch ladies' craving for food safety is taken care of, and at the same time they can get some extra hydration or protein. Works like a charm.
Just send things like cheetos and potato chips and skittles. Food safety be damned!
When did the lunch ladies if the world steal all the power?
Because I am a sucker and my children are walking commercials, I actually gave in and bought Pack-it lunchboxes. Eventhough they aren't endorsed by the late Billy Mays, they seem legit. More than I wanted to spend, despite the buy one get one free offer, but my mom ratings soared the day they arrived. Only time will tell, we start school on the 29th.
I bought LL Bean lunchboxes because they have a pocket inside the lid that holds the ice pack in place. I haven't lost one since I switched.
The lunch ladies always gave me the willies. I was terrified of them. I think it had something to do with the hairnets. Just for fun, why don't you pack a sandwich made with moldy bread? (Have your kid in on the joke, of course:)
I have had that same conversation a million times this summer! So glad I'm not the only one.
A frozen capri sun serves two purposes-a drink and an icepack.
They seriously sent home a note! I am surprised they look at the lunches that closely.
I'm curious- what are you ladies packing in your kids' lunches that necessitate an ice pack? I never had one in my lunch bag as a kid and I never saw any other kid that had one either.
I think the ice packs grow wings...at least that's what my kids try to tell me.
Although I'm surprised someone took the time to check AND write a note, I'm glad to see they are. If most refrigerated foods have been over 40 degrees for more than two hours, bacteria start to grow. Maybe not enough to cause problems right away, but kids are more susceptible to food-borne illness, so why take the risk?
It's frustrating that they're looking over your sholder, but it's good to know you've got people who are also trying to help keep your kids safe.
Re: Lunchbox icepacks. Easy disposable way of doing it is freezing a bottle of water or two. They get to lunch, can drink the water, and the bottle can get thrown away/doesnt have to be returned home. The food stays cold, and the kids stay hydrated!
Oh and i grew up in the days of plastic lunchboxes with no icepacks needed. noone cared if we got sick from eating lunch meat that had been sitting out in our classrooms from the time mom packed it to lunch time at 11.
Ice pack?! I am not using with neither one of my girl.
I hope that they do better job with ice packs this week. I would be so frustrated.
Really? As I read this I was thinking, "Man she's a better Mom than me." I've NEVER put an icepack in. But then I couldn't believe the Nazi lunch lady. Seriously?
hee hee, all summer long my son used the ice packs that came with the "breastfeeding support kit" from the formula companies. They are as old as he is!
what ever happened to brown paper bags? That's what I took to school and never had junk in my lunch
My mom always froze Capri Suns and if they were melted by lunch time, we'd drink them! Might save you some money! :)
I would send a note back to the lunch ladies saying that you won't be putting ice packs in the box anymore as you'll be sending peanut butter sandwiches from now on (my guess is your school is probably nut-free, as they all seem to be now) so this should get their attention!
We use ice packs down here, I'm in Western Australia, because it reaches 36-40 degrees celcius, which is over 100F, during several months of school and the kid's lunch boxes are left in their bags, in the classroom or outside on hooks, depending on the class set-up, and therefore are not air-conditioned at all. Its mandatory that they have them (or frozen water bottles, which most of us do), but I can understand the need for it. Yeah, not peanut butter for us....
Tina: glad to hear I'm not the only one being plagued by Cartoon Network infomercials. If I hear "but Mom, it keeps your food cold for 10 HOURS!" one more time...
lol. Oh man. My son just started kindergarten this year and I'm sure I'm in for a wild ride:) I can't believe I haven't "followed" your blog till now...I've been reading for you for a couple of years now! Thanks for making my day...yet again!
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