If you’re part of the “make their lunch” team, I’ve got a few ideas to help the process move along. If you had an old lunchbox like the one pictured above, it’s funny to see the trend swing back to metal lunchboxes. They were sturdy. It does make me wonder how many “6 Million Dollar Man” lunchboxes they actually sold.

What you pack it in doesn’t matter much, as long as it stays closed on the way to and from school. A rubber band works fine if you need backup.

Making lunch is also a chance to clear out leftovers, have a little fun with a starfish-shaped sandwich, or throw in a surprise for no reason at all. The best part is when the lunchbox comes back home — you immediately know what worked and what to avoid next time.

I try to collaborate with my kids on what goes in, but not too much while I’m actually packing it. My hope is they’ll be hungry enough to try whatever I made, as long as it looks edible. Kids eat with their eyes first.

Try this: Use an old cookie cutter, rust free if possible, to make some fun shapes of something in their lunch. You don’t have to make their sandwich into the shape of a zebra but something like above takes very little time and makes your kids know that you are doing what you can to inject some fun into their lunch. Packing a healthy lunch for our kids is an easy way to love them from afar and you don’t have to see them throw most of it away.

Take away: Put a note or a something fun in your kids lunch this week. Let them pick out items at the store for their lunch that you are ok with and that they will be excited about eating.

Make This: Easy Strawberry Popsicles

The time of the year is here. Finally. Try this or any other easy popsicle recipes and avoid the Bomb pops that I grew up on. These frozen treats are good and good for them. They can eat them every day no problem. Try this popsicle mold if you don’t have one, it will save you money in the long run.

Recipe here

Try this: We started this project with a stick hunt which is fun in itself. Finding the right stick is critical. Then I provided my boys with some sand paper to do their best in smoothing over the stick where they would hold it most often. To finish out I drilled a hole through the handle where we looped a piece of paracord to make a loop for a handle. Now a project like this is intended to get kids excited about walking. I plan on saying, “Go get your walking stick so we can go for a walk” and hearing less grumbles. I also realize that at some point it could be a dangerousish object, so be advised. It was fun to try and I’m hoping we will take more walks as a result.

It seems every week there is at least one birthday for someone, then mother’s day, holidays and many more occasions that require cards. Your average card will run you $5+ and have the sentimentality of an oil change. Sit down with your kids and make some cards. Constrution paper and makers is all you need or typing paper and crayons. It is a fun thing to do together. Put it in the envelope and walk them to the mailbox. Free cards=Magic

Enjoy!

This newsletter is not professional in nature but intended to be real things to try. They won’t all work but this is a process and I’d love for you to join me on the way. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you next week.

Send me a note or your best dad joke @ [email protected]