Food Friday: I (h)Ate School Lunch..And Had To Show ID

Today, I joined my 5 year old at school for lunch. I was appalled that they were serving a pretzel with cheese as an entree. Now that the election is over, I have time to meet with him for lunch.

When I got to his school, I had to show my ID. They scanned it. It printed my driver's license picture, my name, what time/date I checked in and even, "cafeteria", where I was going.

I just LOVE having to wear my drivers' license picture on a name tag....said no one ever. But showing an ID to vote is racist. <- note the sarcasm.

I DID find Sean's ISU hoodie that we've been missing, in the lost and found, while I was waiting for his class to come down the hall. He saw me. He grinned from ear to ear.

He was excited.

We waited in line, I had to pay for my lunch, of course, and Sean was excited that he could tell me how it all worked. I had been to lunch with his older brother before, but I let him tell me. The cashier did say, "I was hoping to meet you! I saw the shirts that your oldest wore last week and said, 'Your parents must work in politics!' Liam told me that his mommy does. And Republican! Good work!"

We gathered our utensils and trays. We could add "salad" and a banana. There was a sign that read, "You must take 1/2 fruit and 1/2 veggie in order for the school to be reimbursed for a full meal." Most of the kids passed it over, because, they're in kindergarten. 

And here was my meal. 

A pretzel, the size of a milk carton (no salt), milk, green beans (no pepper), cheese in a cup, and Caesar  salad...ish, again, no pepper.

Sean and I prayed before our meal, and that reminded the kid who sat across from him to pray. He wanted me to take his picture, in case his parents are friends of mine.

This is the "other" option for lunch, called a "kydz-able". And yes, that is how they spell it. Cheese, carrots, Goldfish crackers and grapes with yogurt. And milk.

How can children learn on snack foods for lunch? How is this accepted?  

The pretzel is going to breakdown to sugar and can cause a major tired crash this afternoon. There isn't enough protein to sustain either of these lunches. Most 'kid-friendly' yogurts are filled with sugar and dye, baby carrots are most likely cleaned with a chlorine sanitizer, the goldfish is loaded with salt, and chocolate milk is loaded with sugar. Nothing in either of these lunches will help fuel the minds and bodies through the afternoon of school.

I wonder how many members of the School Board have eaten this lunch, and gone about their day, with nothing else to eat?

I've asked my boys if they want to take cold lunch. They always refuse. At their school, kids who eat cold lunch, have to sit at a different table than those who eat "hot lunch" or a "kydz-able". How is that not segregation?

How is any of this acceptable? This is not lunch food, this is snack food. My challenge to you, tweet, Facebook, share this post. Our kids deserve more than snacks for lunch.

Make Monday: Make Your (Child's) Voice Heard

*The following is just the views of Sarah Bowman and not everyone at Mommy's Recess*

Tomorrow is school board election day here in West Des Moines. I plan to vote in my first (and I'm somewhat ashamed to say that)school board election tomorrow. I was excited too, thinking I had voted in every election I was eligible for. I DO work in politics, after all.

Then again, I had already graduated high school and have my four year degree...it's just NOW that I THOUGHT the school board elections effect me. But this past year, with barn-gate, my eyes have been opened. I didn't need to have a child in school to have the school board effect me.

Now, I do have a child in the school system. My oldest child started kindergarten this year. But again, with the help of barn-gate, I saw how tax dollars are spent (or misspent). If you pay sales tax, you're effected. If you pay property tax, you're effected.

The people you elect to the school board choose how YOUR money is spent (or, again, misspent).

And for my first school board election, I'm voting for Julia McGuire. Having getting to know her over the past 9 months has been great. And I see that she would be responsible with OUR money as I've seen how responsible she is with HER money.

I believe we need more transparency in Government. ALL Government. That starts with the school board.

Our children can't vote. But we can speak for them. If you have the nerve to expect honesty from those guiding your child's education, if you have the audacity for those who are spending your tax dollars to be held responsible for their decisions, then you need to vote for Julia McGuire tomorrow. She will be honest, she will hold herself responsible and she will be accountable for her votes and actions.

Because Julia doesn't just speak about Character Counts, she lives it.

So tomorrow, vote for Julia McGuire. And write in Sarah Bowman, if you feel so inclined.

Salvation Sunday: Letting Go...The First Day of Kindergarten

Liam is getting his wings. He's more than ready to fly. And believe it or not, he starts Kindergarten on Wednesday.

How can it be? How can this tiny little boy, who was just a baby not that long ago be going to school?

He is excited for school...on Wednesday. And then he asked if he has to go again on Thursday. I said "Yes". He said, "But I'm going to miss you all day," with a crack in his little voice.

I don't think he'll have a problem. He was in daycare 40 hours a week from the time he was 6 weeks until he was 4.5. But he's become used to having me home, being able to hang out with me...me making his breakfast, lunch and dinner. And to be honest, it's going to take some getting used to, having a bit of quiet in the house when he's at school. I'll still have the younger two boys with me at home, but it will get a little more quiet.

I know I can say that now...but ask me again how I'm feeling on Wednesday as he's stepping on the bus.

And yes...I do plan on following the bus and taking pictures. And it's only a half day for the first three days. So ask me how I'm doing next Monday. My answer may be different.

I know I need to let my little bird fly. I know I taught him the basics...be polite, share, don't tease, don't get upset if you are teased. But I also know I won't be there to defend him.

I'm SO not ready for this. So I'm here, on Salvation Sunday, praying for strength.

I remember my first day of Kindergarten. I walked with my good friend, Jason Bruning, our moms following behind. Half-way there, Jason and I decided that our moms were going to be too embarrassing (as they were crying the whole way) and we asked them to turn around and go home...that he and I could go the rest of the way ourselves.

And that story made his mom smile ten years ago, when we were at Jason's wake. He was killed by a drunk driver. And I think, ten years after his death, twenty-six years after the walk to kindergarten I'm still thinking about it. And it still makes me smile.

So maybe there are worse things in life than being that embarrassing mom. And I'll probably be that mom.

But to me, he's still that little baby...and no matter how big he gets...he probably always will be.

And that's my co-author, Emma and her (then fiancee) husband Tim holding baby Liam when he was one day old in the hospital.