30 Mar Lunch notes
Every day this school year, I have written short notes to include in the girls’ lunch boxes, zipped up next to crackers and ready for them to find during their lunch breaks.
In each day’s note, I try to notice and appreciate something I value in each of them. Things like:
You got really frustrated with your math homework last night, and yet you still kept trying.
You read that story in a really nice way.
You showed such courage when you tried out for the chorus solo.
Thank you for talking to me last night about how you were feeling mad.
They usually aren’t large or grand things, just something small and genuine that I admire in each of them.
Most of the time, the notes return home covered in crumbs and stained with spaghetti sauce, the ink bleeding across the damp paper. Their lunch times are short, and I sometimes wonder if they even have a chance to read the notes between eating quickly, laughing with friends and rushing out to the playground.
This week has been extra busy, with early morning meetings, school events and travel. After packing lunches, making breakfast, taking the girls to school and spending a few hours on conference calls and emails, I heard my stomach growling to let me know it was time for something to eat. I walked to the refrigerator, anticipating my go-to snack of sliced apples with peanut butter.
But what was this? On the middle shelf, I saw that someone had made me a surprise bowl of oatmeal covered with blueberries – my favorite. Plastic wrap was stretched tightly over the bowl. A note seemed to float on top, folded in half the same way I fold the girls’ lunch notes. It read:
Mom, even when you’re busy, you always make time to write us love notes. Thank you. I love you, Ella
The oatmeal with blueberries was delightful, but it was the note that filled me with sustenance that afternoon.