The online space is full of hacks, people posting inspiration and information. Everyone is better at everything than I am. That says nothing about me, and everything about them. I am too lazy to be good at anything. Too tired. Always too close to a depressive relapse.
So here is the one thing I have to add to the parenting space.
Snack Plate lunches.
I’m tired of making quesadillas, sandwiches and pizzas. Constantly refilling a side of berries and asking “can you please take a bite of your {whatever thing they specifically requested but are refusing to touch}?”
Instead, I open the fridge. and the cabinets. and I see what we have left. Is there a bag of crackers with barely enough to justify keeping? onto the snack plate it goes! ONE bag of individually packaged animal crackers that would cause a war if I tried to figure out who to give it to? Snack plate!
and are they – finally – so pleasantly playing together that I’d hate to stop the peace and have them sit down?
Let me introduce GRAZING SNACK PLATE LUNCH.
Set it on the table, let them know it’s there and it’s lunch, and… just let them go for it.
That’s it, that’s the one parenting hack I’ve acquired and implemented in the 5 years I’ve been doing this.
