After a busy first week back to school, I wasn’t surprised last night when G told me she didn’t want to go to school today.
I mean, I get it. The novelty wears off quick. It’s such a new experience for her. And the hardest part has been the change in routine.
We are not really morning people.
We try to be, but for years, G has been used to a casual few hours of hanging out, snuggles, reading books, watching YouTube — this was all a part of how we eased into our days when we were at home. Obviously she’s had to get up early before, like at summer camp or when we had places to go in the morning, but our usual AM pace is really slow.
This morning she woke up saying she was too tired and didn’t want to go.
She crawled right into bed with me and we got up together, a little later than we maybe should have, but still with enough time for me to make a hot breakfast (oatmeal for the win) and have a little chill time before heading to the bus.
By the time she left, she was in a bit better of a mood, and she asked that I would come meet her at the bus stop at the end of the day.
Heck yes, kiddo. I will come meet you and we’ll spend our evening together, catching up, and making up for those lost hours that we used to have.
It’s too early to tell how the year is going to go, but I’m trying to make sure that even when she has crummy days or is tired in the morning, that I’m encouraging her to head off to school with a positive attitude and the knowledge that I’ll be here for her when she comes home and needs to literally and figuratively unpack the day.
Since I had a hunch she’d be in a less-than-thrilled mood this morning, I made her a special lunch last night. Thanks to a set of rice moulds that turned her lunch into adorable dogs today. I could feel her mood change when she saw them.
Her reaction was totally worth staying up til 1am making rice puppers with my $12.99 Amazon rice mould.
This video shows you how to use the contraptions because I totally didn’t get how the little handle worked when I tried on my own. Now I’m a pro. A pro with a sticky rice-covered kitchen because I, like the rice, am also a hot mess.
I have zero plans to do this on the daily, but sometimes it’s that little connection that makes all the difference.
There are lots of Pinterest posts with fancy ass bento lunches and they all say it’s easy, but I won’t pretend that I love making lunches like this or even that I did it without swearing. But I will absolutely do it again if it’s the tiny thing that makes her look forward to the day, or that helps us connect when we’re apart.
Does this fall under one of the five love languages? Maybe they can add bento box art as the sixth.
BRING ON THE RICE MOULDS.
I’ll whip you up a rice zoo if you want. Let’s do it.
Glancing at the clock I can see it’s time to haul ass to the bus stop, so that’s where I’m heading.
I LOVE this part of the day.
