Lunches are a big deal around here. The kids put them together themselves, some sort of fruit, a yoghurt, a sandwich containing healthy stuff, and whatever snacks we have in the pantry ready to go. I check at the end of the morning to make sure they have enough (or to make sure Little Miss hasn't made just a butter sandwich), and off we go to school. I also hate it when they don't eat their sandwiches, which then becomes their supper...but today we are talking about not having enough.
Apparently, I did not check their lunches this morning, because Little Miss launches right into the defensive "let's confess all our sins right away so as not to delay the inevitable".
"I didn't have enough in my lunch," she states, straight-faced, hands up in the air.
"Actually, I did but by second break I had only an orange and I ate that and then I had nothing. So I asked him [pointing to her brother] if he had anything --"
"-- and I had crackers," he says.
"And you gave them to her?" I ask.
"Yes, but Mrs. D said, well, I asked her, and she said it was okay --"
"-- she said it was okay because we are brother and sister," Little Miss butts in. There is a strict sharing of lunches rule at our school because of all the allergies in our town.
I stood there for a moment without saying anything, and the kids stood there in silence waiting to see what I would say. Am I supposed to get mad because she didn't pack enough? Or for risking school rules? What exactly is she on the defensive for? Let me think.
And then I realized...they SHARED! He RESCUED her!
"Aww," I said, and gathered them up in my arms, squishing their not-so-little faces together, "I love you guys - you worked together! It just warms my heart." And I gave my little monster a big kiss on the cheek.
"I knew I should've gone the other way," he mumbled and ran off the other way around the kitchen table.
One hour later they were kicking and screaming at each other over a worm in the yard.
Sigh. How long until their dad gets home?
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