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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WWYD school lunch ‘problem’

39 replies

FancifulFeathers · 14/10/2019 19:25

More of a WWYD than AIBU for traffic really!

DD (8) came home from school today and said she hadn’t eaten all her packed lunch because her bread roll had a bite out of it. WTF!

She asked if it was dh playing jokes Hmm confirmed it was not. I asked if she was using this as an excuse not to eat it, absolutely adamant it wasn’t that. Packed lunch is kept with others on a trolley in the hall during school hours.

Don’t know what to do now? If anything?

OP posts:
CherryPavlova · 14/10/2019 19:28

I’d not do anything except the wash the lunchbox and give a fresh lunch the tomorrow.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 14/10/2019 19:29

I would literally do nothing. Nothing. I can’t imagine what you even would want to do.

Elieza · 14/10/2019 19:39

Some other kid prob thought it was their lunchbox and took a bite. If it’s a generic one put something on her lunchbox to personalise it, like her initials in nail varnish or something dishwasher proof! If it happens again after that it’s clearly not an accident and tell the school. They may have to lock the trolley away in future.

Original poster
FancifulFeathers · 14/10/2019 19:40

I dunno, I guess I wondered whether school should be informed? If there’s a child going hungry or not catered for, I’m sure they’d like to know but also, I wouldn’t want that kid to get in trouble.

OP posts:
Bucatini · 14/10/2019 19:40

I wouldn't do anything this time. If it happens again I'd speak to the teacher.

RolytheRhino · 14/10/2019 19:42

You need to tell the school. Baby P was stealing from.lunch boxes and they locked them away in response. Sad

Of course, it's most likely that someone on an earlier lunch rotation has the same lunch box and took a bite before realising, so I'd also emblazon your daughter's name across it really obviously to avoid a repeat.

delilabell · 14/10/2019 19:46

It was Daniel pelka not baby p who was stealing from lunch boxes I think.
But I agree. I'd bring it up I a "could be nothing " way . It might be one of the dots needed...it might just be a child making a mistake..

Original poster
FancifulFeathers · 14/10/2019 19:48

Apparently, nobody has a bag/box similar to hers but that’s easy for her to say, a Reception child might get easily confused so it’s a possibility I guess.

OP posts:
GruffaIo · 14/10/2019 19:50

@RolytheRhino: As an aside, it wasn't Baby P (who died at 17 months), but perhaps Daniel Pelka you're thinking of (who died age 4)? Just as tragic and deeply upsetting.

Butterfly02 · 14/10/2019 19:54

Tell the school (had a similar problem when my eldest was in primary happened to lots of kids school found out which child it was and discovered he was being sent to school hungry he was then given breakfast at school problem was solved. While this was going on I showed my dc what was in lunch box so knew how I'd packed it what was in it as he had food issues related to special diet. Could show your dd to reduce anxiety.

CaptainMyCaptain · 14/10/2019 19:57

Mention it to school. I have known of hungry children taking food from lunchboxes, they will want to know so they can help the hungry child and stop your child being upset.

RolytheRhino · 14/10/2019 19:59

As an aside, it wasn't Baby P (who died at 17 months), but perhaps Daniel Pelka you're thinking of (who died age 4)

Probably, though I fail to see the significance of that factoid to the discussion at hand.

SquirrelsInJune · 14/10/2019 20:00

I would let the school know what happened. If someone is taking food, they need to be aware so that they can investigate further if necessary.

WaterSheep · 14/10/2019 20:01

A single bite out of a bread roll seems unusual. Was it wrapped in anything?

RolytheRhino · 14/10/2019 20:02

A single bite out of a bread roll seems unusual.

Agreed. I do think it is most likely that a kid picked up the wrong lunchbox by mistake and didn't realise until the roll filling wasn't as expected.

GrumpyHoonMain · 14/10/2019 20:06

Tell the school.

Original poster
FancifulFeathers · 14/10/2019 20:08

It was in a sandwich bag within the lunch box (well technically a lunch bag)

OP posts:
Witchend · 14/10/2019 20:09

I wouldn't worry unless it happens again. If a child was starving they're not going to stop at one bite. They're also not going to know which child did it unless it was seen, in which case they'll already be dealing with it.

Most likely they picked up the wrong lunch box, took a bite and realised and put it back feeling scared they'd get into trouble.

If it happened again, then I'd go in and talk about it.

NerrSnerr · 14/10/2019 20:17

I don't think there's any harm in mentioning that it happened just in case it is happening to other people's lunches. Even if it isn't a starving child they'd want to know if another child is routing through lunch boxes.

Beautiful3 · 14/10/2019 20:27

I would mention it to the teacher. If it happens again, inform the teacher. There may be a hungry child or a child getting mixed up.

Original poster
FancifulFeathers · 14/10/2019 20:29

Thanks all. She has a parents evening next week so a good opportunity to leave it for a few days and then mention it casually. Thanks all!

OP posts:
Itsallpetetong · 14/10/2019 20:30

Def mention it to the school. Not because your child lost their lunch but because there could be a very needy child.

Poor Daniel Pelka was my first thought on reading your op. Sad

AllFourOfThem · 14/10/2019 20:31

I’d assume it was an accident. If a child was hungry and stealing food, they would have taken the entire roll.

gingerbiscuits · 14/10/2019 20:31

Jokes about seriously abused & now tragically dead children? Really?? Not funny.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/10/2019 20:32

I hope this isn't the schoo I'm a dinner lady at..we have trolleys too Blush