This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and Smuckers.
I’m not sure where I first got the idea of putting notes in our little man’s lunchbox. I know that it wasn’t any sort of original concept, so my best guess is that I probably saw Claire Huxtable put a note in one of her kids’ lunchboxes on The Cosby Show when I was younger. Of course I wasn’t consciously trying to pick up parenting tips from a TV show when I was, you know, thirteen, but I’ve never been one to underestimate the lasting influence of a family sitcom.
I mean, do you know how many times I’ve thought about Jan Brady running into the family portrait on her bicycle when I’m trying to teach our son about being responsible?
YOU ONLY HAD TO WEAR THE GLASSES, JAN.
YOU ONLY HAD TO WEAR THE GLASSES.
Regardless of where the idea originated, I first started putting notes in Alex’s lunches when he was in Mothers’ Day Out. At the time he couldn’t really read, of course, so I’d just draw a big heart and then sign “Mama” at the bottom. When he started four year-old kindergarten and was recognizing a few words, I moved up to “Alex – I love you, Mama” – and the notes have gotten more elaborate over the last couple of years. He always thanks me for the notes when I pick him up from school, and lots of times I’ll find the notes when I unpack his lunchbox – with little jelly or Cheetos fingerprints all along the edges.
Last year Alex ate in the school cafeteria a good bit (I have NO IDEA why, but he really gets a kick out of going through the lunch line), so I didn’t pack lunches nearly as often. But at the end of the school year, his class had a field day, and since the cafeteria was going to be closed that day, the teachers asked us to send a lunch to school.
It just so happened that the week of field day was a hard one for us because our dog Maggie died. She hadn’t been well for awhile, and I don’t think any of us were prepared for how difficult it was when she finally passed away. Alex took her death particularly hard – it was the first time he’s ever had to say good-bye to something he loved – and the week was filled with hard questions and hard answers. We talked a lot about the fact that there’s purpose in every single thing that happens in our lives, and we talked about how grateful we were that we got to share life with Maggie.
But oh, how he cried. And oh, how he missed her.
When I was packing his lunch the Friday morning of field day, I decided to stick a note inside. I tried to make it upbeat and comforting because I knew how much his little heart was still hurting. And sure enough, when I picked him up from school that afternoon, he said, “Thanks, Mama, for the note you sent me. It made me smile.”
A few days ago I asked Alex why he likes it so much when I send him little notes, and he said, “Because when I’m thinking about you at school, the note reminds me that you’re thinking about me, too.” It’s such a small thing to do – it literally takes less than a minute – but I really do believe that that kind of intentional, loving communication with our kids reaps huge benefits. If you’ve ever written a note to your child(ren), you know that you can see the joy all over their face when they read it.
After the little guy and I talked for a few minutes about lunchbox notes, I had a hunch. Since field day was the last lunch I packed this past school year – and since he told me at the end of that day that he threw away all of his trash at school – I wondered if maybe he held onto the note when lunch was over. So I went in the pantry, pulled the lunchbox off the shelf, and sure enough, I found what I suspected that I would.
He kept it.
Bless his heart.
To celebrate the ways that moms connect with their kids over lunch – whether it’s by putting a note in a lunchbox or making special plans to sit in the backyard and eat sandwiches together – Smuckers has created a really neat program called Kidvitations. It’s a way for parents to intentionally make mealtimes special – and I think it’s awesome. I also think that you and your kids are going to love it.
If you’d like to enter to win a $200 Visa gift card, leave a comment and tell me one of your favorite ways to connect with the children in your life.
There are also BlogHer.com Smuckers roundup page.
And if you enjoy a little light reading, you’re sure to be delighted by the BlogHer.com Smuckers official rules.
This giveaway will run through August 23rd, at which point I’ll use random.org to select a winner.
Can’t wait to read your comments!
Create a Kidvitation!
Home can be a busy place with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That’s why it’s important to set time aside to spend with your kids. Use Smuckers® Kidvitations to invite your kids to share a moment with you over a perfect PB&J. Check it out.
This giveaway is now closed.
http://twitter.com/slehan/status/21889400486
One of my fave ways to connect with my kids is taking them to special events that they personally like and want to attend…I absolutely love that one on one attention and love I can show them, there is nothing so awesome! This last weekend I took my teenage daughter to see Lady Gaga cause she is her fave and it was amazing! I also took my son to a Video Game exhibit at the Science Center and he loved every minute :D
I love to bake with them.
read stories
In this age of texting, tweeting, and instant messaging, I prefer to connect with the kids in my life face-to-face. And because it can be difficult to have meaningful conversations at the dinner table, I try to schedule a one-on-one outing or meal with each of the kids at least once a week. This “us time” has become a nice tradition in the family!
Reading a book to my boys every single night!
I still do notes for my youngest (only one still in school) and she’s 17!
Since mine are older- we keep in touch via technology. Even when we are in the same room we text or IM each other.
I also send them e-cards for every little thing, from random holidays to things are going great to things are going lousy, it just brightens their day and they always tell me how much it means.
The best way would be having a meal together and having a movie night. A simple way but works well!
I like to make sure each of my four kids gets about 30 minutes of one on one time with me at their bedtimes. I either read them stories, sing songs with them or talk about their day with them while tucking them into bed.
Last night we played a board game together. It may be old fashioned, but it is still a good way for families to connect.
Our girls are grown but we send them at least one card or postcard a month; text and call often and send emails almost daily to keep in touch
We like electronics free time. We spend time w/ no phones, tv or video games. Remember board games?
I love to read to my children at night before bed. It’s a great way to bond and talk about our day.
My kids are grown but my son still lives with us so I make his lunch for work and get up and make him breakfast. I do whatever I can for him. I love him and want him to know. We lost our daughter and yesterday it was 8 years. You want them to know you care because life is uncertain.
I help my other daughter and take care of her babies whenever she needs me, or if she doesn’t feel well I drive over and help. They know both my husband and I care because we are always there for our children and grandbabies.
I try to talk to them on the phone a couple times a week, so they can tell me all about what has been going on in their little lives!
To have special dinners with each of my sons, this included shopping and cooking the food
My daughter is in college so we talk a lot on the phone until she is home for holidays or vacations. Then we just spend time together doing things we like.
My son is on his own, but we make sure he comes for dinner every Sunday.
I like snuggling with them at bedtime. My oldest is getting too big for it but my 6 year old still loves it.
Now that my son is older our moments of connection are in the car going to and from school.
This is no big surprise to anyone but I really find that having one on one time with each of my kids is really the best way to connect.
Greeting cards by mail. She gets the joy of a cute card, and mail.
We homeschool, so I don’t pack lunches, but I do hide little notes under the kids’ pillows for them to find – they love it and sometimes I go to bed at night and find they’ve returned the favor with a little present under MY pillow! :)
Playing board games.
I like to spend one-on-one time with my kids. I have four so that’s very special time. We’ve done lunch notes too. Kids really like them.
We connect by playing games!
Thanks!
I enjoy connecting with my kids through fun things, like camping and fishing, and I occasionally watch a cartoon or two with them! :)
My boys are 3 and 1, and I love having lunch and dinner with them. We also connect when we sit in the den playing blocks, reading books, or playing on the “pirate ship” (aka the swingset) in the backyard. Whatever they want, I indulge!
Our little guy is only 2 months old, but we make it a point to spend some daily time rocking him and singing hymns or praise and worship songs. It is a wonderful part of the day to praise the Lord with my little guy!
My favorite way to connect with the kids in my life is to read with them. It is always a fun time.
I have a nine-year old girl and a five-year old boy. My little guy loves to cook with me and has since he was a small toddler. He pushes a chair up to the counter and digs right in. My daughter has always enjoyed talking over her day at bedtime, so we try to allow for extra time. I’m blessed that both my kids are talkers and since our school commute in almost a half hour, I find out the real scoop!
My kids are older. Teenagers can be tough to connect with. A few years ago “they” bought me a hot tub for Mother’s Day. That has become our place to talk. My son especially will stick his head in the room and say, “Mom, I’m getting in the hot tub.” Now, the boy is 16 and doesn’t need to tell us that! It’s his way of really saying, “Mom, I need to talk.” So I head out and we have lovely heart to hearts.
I like snuggling with my kiddos in bed at naptime or the end of the day. Sweet time to talk and love…
I love the notes in the lunchbox. they have always been my fav. way to connect!
jenn14_85 at yahoo dot com
I connect with my kids by trying to answer all their questions. Sometimes they stump me with technical questions about how things work, but my husband is an engineer so he helps out with stuff like “How does the sound go thru telephone wires?”
I enjoy taking our 6 year old daughter out to a sit down restaurant (no drivethrus or happy meals allowed!) and we have a nice meal and talk about whatever she wants to talk about! It’s pertty cool!
We connect by reading together.
We play games together on the computer or video consoles!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love to pack my daughter’s lucn when she was younger and add a Daddy note for her to fine as a surprise. She loved it too.
My husband and I make a point to have every meal at the table with our daughter. We have open communication and participate in making and cleaning up. Even though my daughter is 1 years old, we are setting the example of values. We also snuggle on nap times for those special bonding moments and allow her to have choices in which baby-toddler food she would like to have. We love to teach independance.
clc_little_britches @ yahoo dot com
My kids are grown and both married. I like to keep in touch with all of them (in-laws too) through texting, Facebook and email. Even the occasional phone call.
I love to bake with my younger family members. Bake and read books.
MY GRANDKIDS AND I CONNECT WHEN WE SING SILLY SONGS AND READ BOOKS:)
My kids and I connect through so many different ways it’s hard to choose a favorite.
I guess my favorites are between:
When they confide in me.
When we share great laughs.
We LOVE playing Apples to Apples.
When my children were young I would include notes in their lunches or draw on their napkins. Now that they are all grown I send texts.
Being a Mom of 3 boys I dread the day they want more “boy” time.for now I treasure these days as we cook together, play legos, build forts, and Mommy’s favorite SNUGGLE! ;)
I love reading too them and gettting in the floor and having pretend tea partys
We connect by talking about our days and eating together.
I love for the whole family to sit around the table and enjoy a meal together. It’s such a special time of day with daddy getting home from work and we try to make it fun.
I love to cook with my 6 year old son. It is great bonding time and then we get to sit down together and eat our creation!
When my kids were little, I would put notes in their lunches too! Not everyday, because when I did I wanted it to be special & a surprise!
My friend’s little girl loves hearing stories about things that happened when I was little. I’ll cut her sandwich into triangles at her request because “that’s the way you ate them when you were little.” I’ll tell her about how my brother and I would torture and tease each other, which often gives her ideas for how to tease me now! Good little moments.
My favorite connecting time is reading at night. I stagger my kids bed times so that each one gets one on one reading time. Each child gets to pick his/her own books and gets time talking with me!
we eat dinner together every night so I can hear all about their day. I’m sure as they get older I’ll get to hear less, but I’m going to take advantage of it while it lasts :)
We love to read together especially before bed! I also love to hear my 2 oldest (3 & almost 5) pray – such insight into what’s important to them (and pretty hysterical, too).
I put notes in my kids lunches, too. My Mom did it for me, and I do it for them.
My 3 are all teens now, and at least one of them is awfully hairy and stinky. But I hug them all the time and make sure I tell them I love them regularly. And once in a while, I try to spoil them.
We pray almost every morning on the way to school.
I volunteer with kids and every week I write them each a little note of encouragement telling them what they were awesome at that week and to thank them for being so wonderful!
I like to read with them
My favorite time with my daughter is reading with her before bed. It is time for us to just unwind from the day and escape to another world. My mom always read with me before bed, and it really cultivated my love for reading. I hope to share that same love of reading with my daughter.
I go to McDonalds with my kids every week
Reading to them of doing projects that are fun and require some thought
My children are still really small. I love sitting around on the floor with kissing, tickling and tumbling with them!
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
My children are older noww, but we use to spend overnight sleep outs on the beach next to our house.
marybug2@yahoo.com
I love long car rides – the kids just open up!!
I love to read with my kids….quality time, and I get to find out what they are interested in/love/like/dislike.