Peter Cottontail Bento: Ham Sandwiches with cheese details; Pita Chips, Cheese Cubes, Tomatoes, Green Grapes. Stored in an Easy Lunchbox Container.
I’m still coming down and settling back down from my time at Blissdom. What in the WORLD is it about going away from home that causes you to go completely off schedule when you return?
As soon as I came home, it was back to Mommy-Mode. Hurt knees needing kisses. Milk cups needing filled. Squabbles and fights needing broken up. And, of course, breakfast and lunches and dinners needing made.
It never ends, does it? We are constantly go, go, go and trying to achieve a certain level of perfection. Kids need to be perfectly dressed, house needs to be clean, and everything about our lives has to be picture-perfect.
Sometimes, my bento hobby stresses me out. I’ll be honest — it does. Especially since I got into the habit of sharing pictures and posts. I feel like I have to always have picture-perfect lunches. And, y’all … that is so silly.
Who ever said life has to be perfect? Who said every. single. mom. has to make a beautiful lunch every day … or serve a seven-course meal every night … or that we have to be model-beautiful just to head out to the grocery store?
My Kidlets wake up grumpy, fighting and hungry. I wake up needing coffee and hair practically standing on end after a night of getting up and down with Barney Kneeknuckles. My house isn’t spotless all day long (heck, there’s a pile of laundry at my feet — waiting to be folded as soon as I hit publish), and I’m not wearing a stitch of makeup today.
(I only had time for one thing this morning and I chose to go with deodorant.)
My point is this: motherhood shouldn’t be about perfection. We shouldn’t feel that our status of “Mother” is in jeopardy if we don’t do X, Y, or Z. Our classroom party favors don’t have to be pinterest-worthy. We don’t ALL have to make bentos every morning. Last week? My kids got thrown together lunches several times.
But you know what? It’s ok to have a “thrown together” lunch. The Kidlets were still getting healthy food and fresh fruits and vegetables.
I … WE … need to learn to give ourselves some Grace. We need to shed the “Perfect Mommy” mentality and realize this season of our life isn’t forever … that it is ok if we aren’t perfect all day long.
- If our kids cry in the grocery store — it’s ok.
- If we need to sleep in because we are exhausted — it’s ok if our children get a lunch of leftovers.
- If we need to take a break during the day and just BREATHE — it’s ok. Life will not stop if we take a moment to recharge.
All of this is just a season. And we are good Mothers — WONDERFUL MOTHERS — even if we don’t achieve the level of perfection social media says we’re supposed to reach.
{I Heart Lunch}
I am taking a month off from my weekly bento features — I have other things that need a bit of my time and focus in April. BUT, I don’t want to leave those of you who enjoy these posts without some fabulous lunches or tutorials. Sooooooooo, I have lined up some wonderful bento bloggers to share lunch ideas, recipes, tips and tricks with you.
It’s still going to be about kid-friendly lunches around here … this mom just needs a wee vacation.
I adore getting inspiration and ideas (and even “THAT’S how you do that” moments) from others out there … so let’s share with one another with the “I Heart Lunch Weekly Link-up.”
You can link to any kid-lunch/bento or family-friendly recipe on a blog post or via flickr photos — this linky is for any kind of healthy school lunch and kid-food, regardless if it is Bento-style or not. I want to celebrate our efforts to provide good and enjoyable school lunches for our families!
My only request is that you either add a link back to this post or include the Lunch Graphic (which links back) to your post so others can get here to view the linked lunches too!
Link up your school lunches and bentos! Please use a permalink for your post rather than linking your general blog/flickr account URL — this will help people go directly to your fabulous lunch!
Now — link ’em up!
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