My tiny tornado

So I got an email from the school saying the boys lunch account was low. At the beginning of the year I put $25 on their account. But they have been bringing their lunches every day so they shouldn't have had to use any of the money. So I asked my youngest boy if he'd been buying lunch and he said no.

So I was in the middle of emailing the school back and then he suddenly goes oh Daddy I forgot. My best friend at school, his daddy got laid off from his job and they don't have enough money to buy him lunch so he's been having to eat the cold lunch. The cold lunch at school is not very good and kids make fun of them for having to get it. So I told him my school lunch number so he could eat a hot lunch everyday. I told told him that was a very kind thing of him to do.

I added 50 dollars to the account.

This amazing child of mine

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Mellowgirl · 31-35, F

That's a truly wonderful thing to read. You must be so proud of your son.

I started to panic for a minute thinking it was a bullying situation but what a blessing.

Kindness like this is what we need more of.

I don't want that child to ever feel beholden to your son but I hope he remembers and truly appreciates the kindness that your son has shown him.

Cigarguy · M

@Mellowgirl I am very proud of him, he's such a good boy. He's known this since school started and in fact he's gone to a few of his birthday party.

He's a good kid and my boy is right the cold lunch are not good or enough for a growing kid

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@Mellowgirl

I started to panic for a minute thinking it was a bullying situation but what a blessing.

But it is a bullying situation:

cold lunch at school is not very good and kids make fun of them for having to get it.

@Cigarguy I think you should write an email to the school after all and gently point out that the school has some work to do on teaching some of the children in its charge how to behave towards those less fortunate.

You've got a good son, well done both of you.

Mellowgirl · 31-35, F

@ninalanyon so the overall situation children having to have a cold lunch, that is laughed upon by some of the other students. But the young boy is helping his friend by giving him money so he won't have to endure that embarrassment and get a meal that is more substantial.

Yes the school could look at the way the children look down on cold meals, but actually you cant stop people having an opinion. You can only correct behaviour you witness.

It could also be mentioned that to save the young boy feeling like he owes his friend, If the school was happy to take a donation from the friends family for a period of time that way the money goes straight onto his own lunch number.
That's another approach.

But I personally didn't read too much into this nor does @Cigarguy by the looks of things.

I'd be happy too if my son were to do the same.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@Mellowgirl Of course I'm happy that @Cigarguy son did what he did and i would be delighted to hear that any of my, now grown, children had done he same.

But the behaviour of the children making fun of the unfortunate is something that should be dealt with. Having an opinion is one thing, expressing it by making fun of someone because of their situation is something else.

Mellowgirl · 31-35, F

@ninalanyon but there's also the saying children will be children. Unless a teacher is there to witness it will be deemed hearsay.

I'm not trying to be difficult but unless there's evidence I think the teachers will say they have other things to deal with.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@Mellowgirl That's a rather legalistic way of looking at it. I wasn't suggesting that anyone needed punishing but rather that the topic of ethical behaviour needs to be part of how the school educates those in its charge.

Cigarguy · M

@ninalanyon @Mellowgirl

It's the schools system for the kids how have to get a cold lunch stand in a different line then the kids who get hot lunch's and pay. It was been brought up and complained about many times. But the school says it's the easiest way to do this since lunch is only 30 minutes and they want to get the kids seated as fast as possible.

I worry if I send a email something will be said to the boys parents and I don't want him to get into trouble. And I don't know how the situation is at home for him. I'm sure it's stressful with his father just being laid off. He never asked me son to do this. My boy just volunteered too.

I was just really trying to post something I was proud of my boy for doing.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@Cigarguy I didn't mean to put an extra weight on your shoulders. I think both you and your son have done a great job. I merely felt that it was important to make people aware that bullying isn't only physical.

Mellowgirl · 31-35, F

@Cigarguy and I got that. I think given the responses applauding your son are the only ones you should take notice of.
Unfortunately some people like to highlight only the negative things in life, which really puts a dampener on everything.

Cigarguy · M

@ninalanyon trust me I understand this more than most people. I was bullied in school and even at my old job so I get it.

Cigarguy · M

@Mellowgirl yeah this is the 2nd time in the last 24 hours that people have turned a nice post into something negative. But it's what happens when you post stuff on a open forum like this. What can you do 🤷🏻‍♂