My friends Shanell and Aleta were passing through town on their way to the airport last Monday. I offered to make them sack lunches for their air plane trip because you never get as hungry as when you walk on the airplane and realize there is only peanuts and a small drink for the next several hours. 

Here is a list of the things I wanted to do to their lunches, but did not, because I'm all about being a grown up these days…

Let Emma put Dora stickers all over the brown paper bags.

Throw away the brown paper bags and use the Elmo lunch boxes.

Write a silly note (like I do for Tessa every day)

Put Dora fruit snacks in the lunches

Cut their sandwiches up into little tiny pieces

Take the grapes off the stems and cut them in half (to reduce the choking hazard of course!)

Include a happy meal toy or some crayons and paper.

I restrained myself as much as I possibly could.  Shanell and Aleta, I hope you enjoyed the Nerds!

Dear Toy Manufacturers,

I promise not to…

1.  Let my kids roam the halls of toys stores and take toys out of the boxes to play with while in the store

2.  Not let my kids steal toys (or even just small parts) out of the boxes at stores*

If you promise to…

1.  Not make me get out my screwdriver, scissors, wire cutter and box cutter just to get toys out of the box

2.  Not to use dangerous items like lead paint and tiny choking hazard/swallow-able magnets in the toys

If we each do our part, maybe every parents Christmas morning won’t have to be spent hunched over toy boxes with a variety of tools trying to boost the toys from their boxes.

Thank you!

Laughing Mommy

P.S.  As a teenager I used to work in a toy department of a large department store and I do understand how huge of a problem it is when kids are allowed to play with toys (take them out of boxes) while in the store.  If those toys get separated from their box sometimes we could not figure out which small plastic items went with which toy… leading to that toy not being sold and the store losing money, of course.  I’m sure that is the reason behind each toy being practically Gorilla glued in its box these days. 

1.  Planning - Trips are great!  Plane trips!  Road trips!  LOVE TRIPS!  I'll make lists of the things I'm going to take! 

2.  Disbelief - thoughts going through my head might include, but are not limited to…

     a.  Who decided it would be fun to go on a trip?  Right now I just want to go to bed (or watch tv or use the computer or eat dinner…). 

     b.  (whiny voice) But I don't like packing!

3.  Denial - If I just don't think about it and pretend I'm not going on a trip I won't have to pack.  This stage lasts longer than all the other stages combined.

4.  Panic - I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME LEFT TO PACK!  I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH NO LUGGAGE!  NO CLEAN UNDIES!  NO TOOTH BRUSH!  I'LL HAVE TO WEAR JEANS TO A WEDDING!

5.  Anger - Aaaaargh!  Hate packing! 

6.  Acceptance - Okay, there is no avoiding the packing.  Must starting packing right now.  (The acceptance stage usually happens very late in the game, so feats of super human strength, speed and stamina frequently follow the acceptance stage.) 

7.  Relief - Ahhhhh!  Packing is done.  This is GREAT!  I love trips!  We should go on trips more often.  This is going to be so much fun!