BECAUSE SOME RULES WERE MEANT TO BE BROKEN

Lauren goes to a really small school. The reason why this is important to this post is because it means they have no cafeteria. The kids bring their own lunches and eat them in the classroom. They also have a policy that, if your child were to forget his or her lunch, the office will NOT deliver one to them. I completely understand the concept and reasoning behind this rule, but still feel like it is a little strict for elementary kids.

This morning while I was packing up Lauren's lunch, she told me that there is a boy in her class who always has "tiny lunches." For example, the other day he only had an apple and a juicebox. I suggested that maybe he just doesn't eat very much. (Have you noticed the six year olds who eat like birds and you wonder how they can possibly survive? Lauren is the opposite. Everyday her lunch consists of a whole sandwich, an apple or grapes, a yogurt, and a cookie or rice krispie treat. And sometimes, chips. She eats every bite and tells me she wanted more.)

Anyway, at my comment about him not being a heavy eater, she said, "No, Mom. He is always still hungry."

I paused. Put her lunch box back on the kitchen counter. Opened it up and asked her if she wanted me to put an extra cookie in that she could share with him. Her face lit up for a brief second and then twisted into thought. She paused, too. And looked disappointed.

"Well, actually, we aren't allowed to share food. It's against the school's rules."

Six year olds are cut and dry, black and white type of people. There are no gray areas. Something is either right or it's wrong. And breaking classroom rules is definitely wrong.

Or is it?

I sent her to school without an extra cookie and have been regretting it all day. I should have told her to take one and slip it to him under the table when the teacher wasn't looking.

And then I would have taught her a far more important lesson than she will ever learn at school.