This morning was all about the Three Amigos. It was Papi and the boys, the Tres Caballeros. I felt good and boys were in a good space. Things had moving along nicely as we pulled up to their school.

 

Then, as we got out of the car I reached for the lunch boxes. Where were they? Sitting on the kitchen table at home, that’s where. As I ushered the boys into their classrooms I reassured them that they would get lunch. “Promise,” I said.

 

As I walked back to the car I’m thinking, “How could I forget their lunches?” It’s time for Plan B. Always have a Plan B. What’s Plan B…?  

 

 

Plan B is, call Mami. Not my mommy, the boys Mami. While I wait for my wife to answer, I drive to a local market. I’m thinking a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich and a juice. Keep it quick and easy. 

 

When Mami answers she doesn’t seem too surprised by the situation (I think I’ve been insulted). She gives me a list of possible healthy options including Mac and Cheese, yogurt and maybe some rice and beans. I throw the P&J idea out the window. “I’ll take care of it,” I say. 

 

I get to the market. But before I walk in I think, “I need a shopping cart.” In retrospect, that was a bad sign.

 

I go straight to the deli department and order a side of Macaroni and Cheese. I congratulate myself with, “A creative choice, Papi.” Next, I’m looking for a healthy sandwich. I find a nice Ham and Cheese Croissant and decide I can divide the sandwich between the two boys.  Throw in the side of Mac and Cheese and we’re all set. I move to the check out counter. 

 

But then I realize then that I’ll need some small container to divide up the food. As I walk to the storage container section of the store I run across sliced fruit. Fruit?  The boys need fruit. It’s a big portion, though. I’ll divide it. I’ll need another container. 

 

I finally arrive at the plastic storage container section and am overwhelmed by the choices. There are small containers and large containers, square containers and round containers, snap-on lids or screw-on tops, disposable and reusable, 2 for 1 specials and a hug box that should be labeled, “Everything you could ever want in storage technology.”  

 

Now I’m thinking that JT and Q can’t possibly eat their sandwich from the plastic rapping it comes in and the Mac and Cheese can’t go in the same container with the sandwich or it will get soggy.  I’ll need more containers. I take 2 plastic square containers for the Ham and Cheese sandwich and two small disposable plastic bowls with screw-on tops for the Mac and Cheese--wait, it’s only a dollar more for the plastic reusable ones. I take those. I grab two strawberry yogurts and a 10-box set of apple juices; because there isn’t anything smaller. It’s a good thing I have a shopping cart.

 

At the register and explain that I’m making sack lunches to my boys. The clerk nods. Why am I explaining to the checkout clerk?  She rings up $35.00 in charges (Ok $34.56) and I’m out the door. $35 dollar!

 

In the car I spread mayonnaise on the croissant from a small pouch that was under the sandwich (is that sanitary?) and then put the sandwiches into the two square plastic containers. I divide the Mac and Cheese into the small plastic bowls with the screw-on tops and then realize that the fruit has to go in with the sandwiches (I guess they’ll have soggy sandwiches after all). Finally, I squeeze everything into two brown paper bags. The yogurt and apple juice make for a tight fit but I think it’ll work.

 

Back at the school I take a moment to write the boys’ names on the brownbag lunches. I make my way to the classrooms looking like I’m delivering an overstuffed load of groceries. Outside the classrooms I get sympathetic looks from two teachers and I realize--I may have overcompensated…just a little.

 

What’s important to keep in mind here is that my boys will eat and I feel less guilty about forgetting their lunches. Yes, there were some unnecessary expenses and maybe even a little too much food but Papi went hunting and came home with a moose. I make no apologies. Besides we always need another square or round plastic container with a snap-on or screw-on lid. I mean who doesn’t.