I tried, I really did.  I told the boys they were on their own for breakfast and lunch.  At 10 & 12, they are more than capable.  The fault lies with me.  What I should have said is what I really meant, which  was "get your own breakfast and lunch on a reasonable --TO ME-- schedule.  Those of you who have already been through raising pre-teens feel free to laugh.  What ended up happening was that for the most part, they would graze lightly during the day, and at 4:00, faint from hunger, go locust-like through the kitchen.  This pretty much made my carefully planned dinner a joke.

However, the inner control freak prevailed, and came up with a new plan.  I've been making those carefully planned dinners around 1 or 2 in the afternoon.  It feels strange to make huge meals in the middle of the day, but since it's summer they are lighter and easier to cook, so it's not too bad.  After lunch (lunner?) everyone helps to clean up and then is free to pursue their interests (or take a siesta).   So at the end, everyone's nutritional and control needs are satisfied.  I know they've eaten well early enough so that they don't go in search of junk with their friends, and they feel like they have more of their summer to enjoy (all 46 remaining days).

 All this independence is great, but I have one last trick up my sleeve to gather everyone at the end of the day....dessert!

I think I'm on a constant rant about the seemingly limitless stream of junk that kids are fed at school.  Why don't we promote healthy eating as the norm?  I'm not trying to be a kill-joy, but I am tired of what appears to be the complete disregard for nutrition in an educational setting. 

As a room parent, I request donations of fruit, and cheese & crackers.  We often have milk, or, gasp, water.  One thoughtful parent made a fruit salad and served it in cupcake liners, and cheese was sliced and placed in rows alternating with crackers.  It was a beautiful presentation, and the kids devoured every last bit.  To them it was very grown up.  I will admit that the veggie tray is never a big hit...but we keep trying!  There are many inexpensive and healthy alternatives to cookies or sugary cereals or candy bars being pimped as granola bars.  How about this as the new golden rule:  feed other children as you would have your own fed.

It's so much easier to buy a gallon of neon-colored corn syrup water and a few boxes of sugary fatty cookies.  But that says I don't care, and I DO care.  And if more of us care, and make a point of showing that we care, we can make a difference.