When I was a kid, I always envied the other kids whose Mommies would put a hand-written note on the napkin in their lunchbox. I'm not sure if this happened often or if I only saw it once or twice, but it took on great importance in my mind. So much so that I once wrote my own note to myself, trying to pass it off as from my Mom. When I opened my lunch that day, I found a real note from my mom, who must have seen my version and felt horrible that I would have felt the need to do such a thing. I was delighted and also embarrassed, for obvious reasons. I share this story not for you to feel sorry for me (but it's OK if you want to 'cause clearly I need a lot of attention) but to point out one of the things that my own childhood experience has brought to the rearing of my own children. Because ever since I have started packing a lunch for my oldest daughter (OK, or since the au pair started packing a lunch for her) I have been including a hand-written note for her on her napkin every day. I know she likes it, but I'm sure it's more important to me than her. It's hard to come up with something original every day...so I've started writing her poems, which might be fun to post here for others to enjoy, and for her to look at later in life.
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