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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pringles in the packed lunch

672 replies

Pennecrayon · 18/01/2023 11:02

This feels like an odd question but I wanted to ask here in case I am missing something. We have a few tubes of Pringles left over from Christmas and I've been putting a few in a Tupperware for DS's packed lunch. He's 7.

Last night, I got a WhatsApp from a parent who I don't know very well to ask me if I would stop putting Pringles in DS's packed lunch because it's making her son jealous. I was a bit taken aback and I didn't respond.

I think I'm entitled to put whatever I want in my DS's lunchbox (within the rules) and that's what I want to tell her. We're new to the school this year though so I don't want to upset anyone and cause dramas.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Moonlightdust · 18/01/2023 13:14

Utterly absurd.

AnxieTeapot · 18/01/2023 13:15

Reply that your son has now popped and he just can't stop.

Sotellmethisandnomore · 18/01/2023 13:17

I'd send him in with a big tub and watch her spontaneously combust over the Whatsapp messages. Gobshite.

PinkSyCo · 18/01/2023 13:17

DaughterOfPsychiatrist · 18/01/2023 13:06

‘We’ve already popped, so we can’t stop’

🤣🤣🤣 brilliant!

Mydogisthecutest · 18/01/2023 13:19

Brilliant. Please put extra Pringles in his packed lunch!!!

She would lose her mind over my DDs packed lunch today - she has 5 malteasers truffles (leftover from Christmas) AND a small slice of her leftover birthday cake. No she doesn’t normally have that much sugar - usually the cake is a mini maltloaf for break time. And I will also add DD is really underweight for her age - in the lowest centile.

GreetingsToTheNewBrunette · 18/01/2023 13:20

JudgeRudy · 18/01/2023 11:37

Yes, and change your WhatsApp profile picture.

Show quote history

🤣

Patineur · 18/01/2023 13:21

Send her a tube of Pringles. Problem solved.

Minikievs · 18/01/2023 13:23

I'd send him in with a big moustache, bow tie and a lunch box full or Pringles.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

NoSquirrels · 18/01/2023 13:23

Pennecrayon · 18/01/2023 11:27

Thanks. I did check the school lunch policy and they're definitely allowed crisps so I think it's just this jealousy thing. I don't even know if DS knows her kid and I didn't really want to get into it with him this morning. I just can't work out how to respond politely and firmly with a thinly veiled fuck off.

You could say

’Oh dear - sorry X is wanting Pringles too! They’re just leftover from Christmas, probably we’ll run out soon but DS is enjoying them while they last. I always tell DS other people have different rules if he’s ever jealous.’

Then be more direct with a ‘No, you loon’ if she tries again.

SnowyOwl1 · 18/01/2023 13:28

Just ignore the message. I really like the idea of changing your profile pic to Mr pringle grinning 🥸 though 😆.

DesertIslandCondiment · 18/01/2023 13:31

Foxywood · 18/01/2023 13:00

All the support for feeding children crap !

😂

There is always one.

butterfliedtwo · 18/01/2023 13:33

DaughterOfPsychiatrist · 18/01/2023 13:06

‘We’ve already popped, so we can’t stop’

Ha!

IsTheOffDutyDoneYet · 18/01/2023 13:34

“I’m sorry, we won a lifetime supply of them and I’ve got to get rid of them somehow”

OR

”Are you ok?”

Original poster
Pennecrayon · 18/01/2023 13:36

(a) I'm now really terrified she's on MN.
(b) I'm going to reply 'now we've popped, we can't stop'. Too good.

OP posts:
Teddeh · 18/01/2023 13:37

It wouldn't even have occurred to me that that was meant seriously!

Don't worry; it's the last of the Christmas Pringles - he'll be back to apples and gruel shortly!

or

Oh, dear! I'm not officially authorised to negotiate, but if your son wants to arrange a trade mine is partial to Twinkies and Tony's Chocolonely...

MissingMoominMamma · 18/01/2023 13:37

00100001 · 18/01/2023 11:22

OMG, I'd literally be giving him a packed lunch of just pringles for a day if I had that msg.

Loving the abbreviation at the end- very topical! 😂

BliainNua · 18/01/2023 13:39

You could always tell her ... don't worry, they're lidl own brand so no need to be jealous 😉

Keep doing what you're doing, I do think the most sensible reply is to tell her it's your business not hers.

theycallmejane · 18/01/2023 13:39

Am I the only one who feels a little sorry for her?

It's a ridiculous message, but perhaps she's flat broke and upset at constantly not being able to provide the nice things her child wants. Trying to control what you put in your own child's lunch box isn't the solution, but maybe she's out of ideas.

MeridianB · 18/01/2023 13:39

If they are allowed then I would totally ignore her message. It's too weird to even merit a response.

SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 18/01/2023 13:40

SleeplessInEngland · 18/01/2023 11:20

As another poster said, just reply "Hello, thanks for your message. I include the pringles as a little treat which I think is fair enough. Sorry your son gets jealous, I know the feeling!"

Light, but assertive. Nothing she can say to that without looking like even more of a dick.

Show quote history

Hell would freeze over before I sent a response like that. Why even begin to try to smooth her self ruffled feathers? Sometimes when you take a step back some people take a step forward and then ask you to meet them halfway. Don't step back.

Is there any way to accidentally respond in the group WhatsApp?

"OK. As Little Timmy likes Pringles I've Our Sunny in with Ferrero Rocher instead. Ta hun!"

Catmummyof2 · 18/01/2023 13:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Pearlygates · 18/01/2023 13:47

Brefugee · 18/01/2023 12:26

With the current economic crisis we really don’t know how much stress others could be under, and maybe struggling to find food, let alone branded or goodies.

don't be soft. I went to a flipping expensive boarding school where they all holidayed in Barbados, went skiing at Klosters, had all the branded goods and so on and so forth.
I learned to live with it because that is normal. A bit of jealousy is normal. And i suppose in very young kids a whinge to mum is also ok. At which point mums say "sorry, you can't have them" or find some other way of handling it.

But it doesn't include asking someone not to do something.

I think no reply is the best answer but i really really love the idea of changing the profile pic. Maybe just to a picture of a pringle.

Spot on @Brefugee

ShepherdMoons · 18/01/2023 13:49

she sounds weird, really pringles are just a type of crisp and most children have crisps with their lunchbox. I'd tell her to get over herself!!!

sjxoxo · 18/01/2023 13:49

This is funny and I’d ignore it as long as school don’t mind crisps, but it reminded me of how jealous I was of a girl in my class who had those frube yoghurts with toys in in her lunch box every day. I had to have school dinners which was hearty things like shepherds pie and my mum would rather die before buying a frube yogurt 😂
Im grateful now for the habits I learnt as I eat well but I still remember how green with envy I was about aged 4 🤣🤣🤣

ShepherdMoons · 18/01/2023 13:50

I wouldn't even bother to respond. Or just an 'oh dear' would be sufficient.

How pathetic!!

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