Some mornings with kids feel rushed and chaotic — mismatched socks, backpacks half-zipped, and cereal bowls still sitting in the sink. But then there are mornings like today, where one small request turns into a memory that sticks.
As my kindergartener sat at the table, still rubbing sleep from his eyes, he looked up at me and asked, “Mom, can I have a homemade Lunchable?”
It was such a simple request, and of course, I said yes. But instead of just tossing random snacks into a container, I decided to have a little fun with it.
I grabbed what I had on hand: honey ham slices, Kraft singles — his absolute favorite — and Ritz crackers. I didn’t have any fancy cutters, so I improvised with what might be the most “mom move” ever: a NyQuil cup. It was the perfect size to cut neat little circles out of the ham and cheese, just the right shape to stack on the crackers. In just a few minutes, I had assembled a pretty convincing little Lunchable — homemade, budget-friendly, and packed with love.
Feeling satisfied with my creation, I tucked everything into a container, added some fruit, and placed it in his lunchbox.
Meanwhile, in the other room, he was putting on his shoes, humming to himself. Then, suddenly, his little voice rang out with all the urgency of someone who just remembered something very important:
“Moooom! Don’t forget that Lunchables come with a piece of candy!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Out of all the effort I had put into crafting the perfect homemade version, he still remembered the one detail that mattered most to him. Not the ham, not the cheese, not the neatly stacked crackers — the candy.
And honestly, I should’ve known. Kids always know the important details, don’t they? 😂💕
So yes, a piece of candy went into the box. Because sometimes, it’s not about perfection — it’s about those little touches that make them feel heard, loved, and just a little bit spoiled.
And I have a feeling that years from now, when he looks back on his school days, it won’t be the store-bought Lunchables he remembers. It’ll be the one his mom made with a NyQuil cup, some Kraft singles, and a whole lot of love.
