A concerned mother has taken to the internet to ask for advice after her daughter’s kindergarten teacher said she was packing ‘too much food’ in her lunchbox.
Writing in a parenting group on Facebook, the mother said the teacher, who was ‘scary as hell’, approached her and demanded to know why she was packing ‘so much’ for the five-year-old.
‘I explained to her that she’s a fussy kid, so one day she will eat something the next day she will act like its poison and not touch it,’ the Australian woman wrote.
One mother was feeling the heat when her daughter’s ‘scary as hell’ prep teacher asked her why she packs so much food
‘I’m also trying to teach her a variety of foods because all this kid would eat is nuggets and sausages and eggs if I let her.
‘She is also very active. So I would think after a huff and puff session she would be feeling hungry.’
The mother shared a photo of the lunchbox, which showed a mixture of snacks including sandwiches in the shape of stars, popcorn, a protein ball, banana yoghurt, grapes, cheese, processed meat also in the shape of stars, savoury biscuits and cookies.
‘Here is an example of her lunchbox. The banana muffin is for morning tea often with a banana or grapes,’ she said.
She’s not the only one who has been approached by teachers for packing too much food either, with another mum scolded by her son’s kindergarten teacher for packing this lunch
‘The lunchbox is for lunch and the snack compartments are for her lunch break when she shares with her friends.
‘I do get it’s a lot… not a lot comes back though? Isn’t fed best? Isn’t it best that my daughter possibly shares with a kid whose mum or dad is struggling?
‘This is my first baby in school so yes I am still a newbie here!’
A number of parents told her that sharing shouldn’t be allowed between children at school and she should simply pack what her own child will eat.
But others were shocked that her offering was considered ‘too much’, and posted images of their own overstuffed lunches
‘Definitely too much food, kids are not encouraged to share as you never know what other kids are allergic to also some parents would not appreciate somebody feeding their kids sweet stuff like choco cookies,’ one mother wrote.
’11 different types of food does seem a little excessive considering she only has an eating window of about 30 minutes over the course of the whole day,’ another wrote.
But others were shocked that her offering was considered ‘too much’, and posted images of their kids’ lunchboxes in the thread.
‘I don’t think she has any business questioning what you pack your child, tell her to mind her own,’ one woman commented underneath the thread
‘I don’t think she has any business questioning what you pack your child, tell her to mind her own,’ one woman commented underneath the thread.
‘This infuriated me! Your child is fed. Whether it’s too much. Whether it’s not enough. Whether it’s packaged. Whether it’s organic. You are sending your child with something. You are trying. You are being a mother. You should NOT be questioned!’ Another added.
A third said: ‘Wow if she thinks that’s a lot I must pack for 10’.
She’s not the only one who has been approached by teachers for packing too much food either, with another mum scolded by her son’s kindergarten teacher for the same thing.
‘He always comes home with almost nothing left, what do I do?? They have crunch and sip then recess and then lunch,’ she wrote.
The lunch was made up of four cookies, a frankfurt roll, watermelon and mango, a scroll, cheese and biscuits and some chips.
‘Just because a child will eat it all doesn’t mean that they need it all. Pack less for a few days and see if he eats the leg off a chair when you pick him up,’ one woman advised.
‘I’d tell the teacher to mind her own business,’ another added.