My daughter is a very responsible child. She’s the rare kid who says she’ll clean the litter box if we can get a cat—and actually does it. At age 8, she’s already more responsible than me.

This child is in her third year in public school and has forgotten her lunch only two or three times all together. (Each time it was a major crisis—a call from the office with a crying child in the background. They DO sell food there, but that was not the plan, so it is NOT OK.)

Her brother has been in public school for two months and already has forgotten his lunch four times.

It’s not that he doesn’t like food—he’s very fond of his lunch. He is just the more common kind of proverbial kid who would leave his head behind if it weren’t firmly attached.

Last week, one morning, we made a particularly good lunch, with a sandwich cut out with a cookie cutter and all sorts of fun things. He forgot it at home.  (I took it to the school, which is 2 minutes away. He’s only 6. Give us a year or so.)

The next morning, he was careful to put his lunch by the door so he wouldn’t forget it. He got his shoes and coat on, then started to head out without the lunch. I called him back to get it. He got the lunchbox, said “Thanks, Mom!” and ran out the door without his backpack.

Later, at the bus stop (son complete with backpack now), the bus arrives and all the kids start toward it.  I hear his sister’s voice across the distance, with a note of distress.  Then I see son shoot back to where he had been standing—to retrieve his lunchbox.

Good thing his sister is the only one with glasses so far. I may have bad vision, but I can clearly see $$$ signs in my future for when son follows the family tradition of nearsightedness. Are glasses cheaper by the dozen?

                        ***

Library books—another challenge.

Son forgot his books last week.  During the ensuing discussion, he and his sister mention to me that the library will give an “oops book” the child can keep in the classroom but not take home.

Mom: Did you get an oops book?

Son: No, but I got a small white paper!