Man, I love spending the summer with my son. I haven’t always felt this way though. I’m having more fun with him this summer than I’ve ever had before. Age 3.75 is basically the best. I blogged in May about how his day care situation was not right for him. I think part of my enjoyment of him comes from a sense of relief that he’s no longer at that school. He was unhappy and it showed in his behavior there and at home.
Now he’s very happy. I’m getting a lot of love from requests to snuggle (so rare from a kid who is constantly moving) and endearments (he called me “sweetie pirate” — high praise indeed). But it’s not just the two of us this summer though — I’ve put him in half-day day camp. He is loving his first taste of camp. How can I tell? He gets ready around 7 am and camp starts at 9. We used to have to drag him to day care and now he’s so excited about camp that he’s ready early. I believe he is having a different experience because of two things: curriculum and instruction. All of the activities are interactive and hands-on. I really believe that learning at this age is all tactile or at least multi-modal. Also the teachers are young and have a ton of energy. Then there’s “water day” where I take him to camp in his swimsuit. So it’s basically heaven.
Parenting has made me a better teacher/therapist. Now I know what it feels like to get a bad report on a student virtually every single day. And now I get to see how changing the environment, the curriculum, and the instruction turns a child around. I should point out that the comparison isn’t entirely fair: he’s at camp just over two hours compared to eight hours before. But man, I’m loving my boy.
Today I’m giving away a couple cool things in honor of a happy summer for all:
LunchBots Duo Steel Snack Container
What I love about this container is that you can have one dry item and one not-really-dry item in one container — no need to pack two separate containers. So crackers and sliced apples can go together. You know, I’m a devoted Laptop Lunches person, but LunchBots are seriously useful products in a different way.
I have two of these user guides, which you get when you purchase a laptop lunch system. It’s only $2.99 on their website, but it’s chock full of lunch recipes and snack ideas in list form. Additionally there are diagrams of what to put in each box, discussions about making lunch healthier (including comparing ingredient lists). They had a nutritionist go through this book and it shows.
To win them both in the giveaway, leave a comment on this post! I will be choosing one name at random on July 4th. Happy summer!
As a highschool student, I try to bring my own lunch as often as possible since the school selection is only fried food (good luck trying to find a fruit/vegetable…maybe a big squirt of ketchup). To win this giveaway would really help me!
This is great. So glad I came across this website!
I want you to know how much you are appreciated–lots! I don’t have kids, but as a teacher, I appreciate what you do!
Glad your son is happier now!
I absolutely love your blog. It’s helped me be MUCH more conscious of what my students put in their mouths each day!
I too love my laptop lunch kit. I’d love to win the lunchbot to pack my youngest daughters snack in.
I’m glad to see that you and Charlie are having such a great summer 🙂
that lunch container looks great!
Happy Summer!
I’m glad Charlie is loving camp!!! What will happen in the Fall? I miss your weekly packed lunch round up =(
I’ve been following your blog for months! I love what you’re doing!
A perfect lunchbox!
Oh, this is such a fun giveaway! And Charlie is absolutely adorable – I always love hearing about him!
My younger daughter who is in kindergarten just finished out the year without eating from the school cafeteria menu. She loved taking home made lunches. My hope for the coming school year is to persuade my older daughter, who will be in 4th grade in September, that packed lunches can be yummy and dont have to be pasta all the time.
Any suggestions will be great.
My daughter goes to half day camp and she loves it too. I think they love it because there is less structure and their “leashes” are let out just a bit.
I think I am going to take the plunge and get my daughter a laptop lunchbox this year!
So glad to hear that you son loves camp.
I’m so glad to hear your son is doing better now that he’s at camp. I was extremely lucky as a child to have our next-door neighbor babysit me. I was never unhappy there. We bonded so well that she would even take me on her family vacations or to the local carnival.
All those pictures you’ve posted with the Laptop Lunch Boxes have really put me in the mindset of buying one. I like all the different compartments that really remind you to pack a variety of foods. 🙂
As a gluten-free teacher, I pack my lunch every day and this would really help!
Your blog has been a great inspiration – I’d love to win!
Love your blog, and also a Laptop Lunchbox fan, but would love to branch out! Thanks!
I love the snack box! Great idea.
I have always wanted one of tese, but have never gotten around to buying one! I would love to win.
So glad Charlie is now happy, and so are you! a new non-plastic lunch container would be great!
I’m glad Charlie is having fun out of camp and in it. I went to girl scout camp as a kids and I was great. I wish my parents had sent me to half day camps when I was younger too. Anyway I wish I had a proper bento box or two. I’m using tupperware right now for my lunches at work. I have to bring my lunch, and sometimes I only have a 15 minute break as lunch. So a smaller box would be great. The booklet would be useful too as I”m not the best on planning ahead.
You are so correct about children needing to be in the right environment and how it can change their behavior. I’m glad you found a place that is right for your son.
Love your blog!
This looks perfect for my daughter.
Thank you for your blog. Most parents (the ones I deal with, anyway) have no idea what their kids’ school lunches are like, or how what their children consume affects their performance and behavior.
This would be awesome! Right now, our lunch containers consist of washed out disposable containers and plastic bags and whatever else I can find. Having a Lunch Bot would be amazing.
Yay for summer snuggles! And for healthy lunch planning.
I would so love this for my boyfriend. I have a neat little lunch container for myself but just through his lunches into a bunch of random tupperware containers.
I love this container!! I’ve been eliminating plastic containers and adding glassware. I haven’t purchase any of these but I’ve been tempted. I would love to try this one.
I’ll be packing lunches for 2 kids starting this fall, so I need to up my packing supplies. Thanks!
So glad you found a better place for your son. It makes all the difference in thier lives and yours.
My son will be going to Pre-k next year so these items would be very useful in helping me pack him healthy, yummy lunches!
I feel the same way about being a better teacher now that I’m a parent. I taught 8 years before having my first child. Yes, I have a different perspective now that I’m a parent. My husband and I love all kinds of foods and we are vegetarians. I thought that kids that have bad eating habits came from homes where their parents didn’t eat good healthy foods themselves. Our daughter does not eat well at all, which drives me crazy. Her growth is now being affected so we are seeing a nutritionist. I love reading your website to get ideas about foods for her to try. If I don’t win the book, I’m certainly going to puchase it and get more ideas.
would love to win! Happy Summer!
My little guy has been in a great daycare/pre-k up until now, but starts kg in the fall. I am not looking forward to the change in food:-(
Glad that you and your son are having a good summer!
Thanks for inspiring us all to be better eaters and Moms. Four year olds rock!
That snack container is just what I need for a busy summer!
Glad to hear the summer is going well! My niece is the same age and I agree it’s a good one!
So glad he is so enthusiastic about camp, enjoy your summer!
I’d love to try that container…what a great idea for lunches!
We had to throw out the kids lunch bags after school was out–they were just too banged up and gross to keep any longer! The snack container looks really handy!
Oooh, my daughter has been getting pickier about her lunch flavors mixing so this would be perfect! Thank you!
I know you work hard all school year, glad you are enjoying your summer off with your son!
I recently found your blog, so glad I did. As a PreK teacher I am enjoying my summer as well. Thanks for the chance to win this cool giveaway!
love packing my lunches, this would be perfect.
Hope your summer continues to go well!
Oooh! Pick me, pick me! I hope you have a great summer, sweetie pirate. 🙂