Before I begin today’s post, I’d like to take a paragraph to thank you all for reading and responding to my previous post.  The one I wrote as a letter to my twenty-year-old self.  I really enjoyed writing the post to the point of fangirling myself and rereading it quite a few times (and it’s only Tuesday).  To have you respond as you have as well though has really made my day.  It seems to be a post and theme that has made many of you reflect on your own lives and it’s lovely to see my writing resonate with you both as readers and as people.

The rest of today’s post returns to a theme I’m sure you know and love … mum life through my eyes. Specifically, my writing about aspects of it as if I’m the first woman ever to have discovered or been through what the rest of you just dealt with on an ‘as and when’ basis with you and your children turning out perfectly fine at the end of it.

First order of business today is the school lunch box.  Specifically, the Yum Boxes that I’ve purchased from Hello Green.  I bought one each of the original and panino styles (same size but slightly different trays) after putting the word out on Facebook for tips and tricks.   My friends came through not only with the best lunchboxes to use but they also provided lists of foods they make and buy for school lunches. I have photos of their replies on my phone for future reference.

And then I did something I swore I’d never do.  I went to Daiso (didn’t swear against that bit) and bought bento lunch accessories.  Up until two weeks ago I was going to be that mother who got behind the school canteen 10000000% by ordering on a daily basis.

This nifty sausage decorating set.

Star-shaped cutters for sandwiches (yes really) and pikelets (which don’t seem to be in stock at the supermarket right now….).

And themed picks for chopped fruit, cheese and all those other healthy things I hope Preschooler SSG will suddenly eat for lunch because it looks cute with its Daiso accessories in a Yumbox.  If I could pack a McHappy meal, Popcorn Chicken Go Bucket or a kids plate from Schnitz into a Yumbox I quite probably would but I don’t think any of these freeze well.  Which is how I intend to make this daily lunchbox thing work.  I’m going to make things ahead and defrost on the day they’re needed.

There will be a two-week lunchbox trial at preschool next month which is why I’m so organized with the Yumboxes and Daiso goodies.  I’m hoping that the novelty for both myself (making the lunches) and Preschooler SSG (eating the lunches) doesn’t wear off at the end because we’ve got around 12 years of my involvement in school lunches ahead of us.

I’ve been fairly successful with managing Preschooler SSG’s art work up until this week.  A percentage is up on the walls of my office at work, another is up on the walls at home, an undisclosed larger percentage has been discretely recycled but this latest piece has stumped me.  It’s a ‘Suitcase Locker’ (as you can tell from the hand printed label at the front) and it contains Preschooler SSG’s backpack, a spare hoodie and a rogue dried apricot that dropped in while I was trying to figure out how to lift the locker into the car.  Because we couldn’t leave preschool without it.  Believe me, I tried.

The ‘Suitcase Locker’ is currently pushed against the wall behind me while I figure out what to do next with it and the newish roll of masking tape that’s half attached that I’m not allowed to remove. But I have found an answer to our need for some kind of easel for watercolour painting.  This foldable desk easel was from Officeworks and cost $15.50.  There is no assembly required and my plan is to get some board and then bull dog paper onto it.  Still finding the cardboard as I write…

One of Preschooler SSG’s current things is crisp $5 bills. I also love them because I’m still going on the $5 Challenge I started at the beginning of the year.  Yesterday, in the spirit of being a good parent, I gave him one straight out of the change slot at the Woolies self checkout.  That $5 note has since been pushed to its physical limit.  It was flapped around to make ‘rainbows’ appear in the clear panel, it went for a ride on the travelator (literally on the travelator belt… don’t worry, no one was hurt), got wiped over with some antibacterial hand wash (see ride on travelator belt) before finally finding itself atop this complex arrangement above a railway turntable.

How long did you last making school lunches?

What’s the most excitement you’ve put a $5 note through?