Pringles in the packed lunch

[Pennecrayon]

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?

Cost of living crisis or no, it's completely weird to ask someone else to do without or make changes rather than actually parenting your child (can't believe I just used that phrase...) and teaching them to handle disappointment and jealousy over something small like this. That's a normal part of growing up and is a valuable life skill. Someone thinking they have a right to dictate to a stranger what they put in their child's lunchbox (unless obvs for life-threatening illnesses or whatever) should not be encouraged to think that's a reasonable request.

I'm craving Pringles now.

Oh FFS.....her son needs to deal with life being a bit unfair sometimes. Sod the Tupperware pot...I'd be sticking the Pringle tube in as is 🤣

They still sell those little lunchbox tubs for Pringles on eBay.

In the interests of keeping good relations with other parents, I'd reply something like "Oh dear, it's hard when they want what's in their friends lunches isn't it, my Billy can be like that sometimes too! Have you thought about putting him on school dinners so he's getting the same as the person next to him?"

I'd just reply Haha kids are funny aren't they? I'm not going to stop sending them as not including anything that other children might want would lead to some pretty uninspiring lunches and that way lies madness but I'm sorry your son is feeling jealous. I get the own brand ones from poundland and they're really nice, you should give them a go sometime. All the best, pennecrayon.

Block her, then continue to send the kid with Pringles.
What a throbber she is.

It's hard enough to get my son to eat anything at all, so I'm not sure how well I would react to someone telling me to remove something from his lunchbox that was actually getting eaten! Plus, my kids have always suffered from "lunchbox envy". They have learned that not everyone gets the same things - it hasn't done them any harm.

Personally I wouldn't reply at all.
See if she'll say it to your face. If she is that bonkers then say that you checked the school lunch policy and crisps are allowed. Leave it at that.
There may be reasons you don't know why this is an issue for her child, but simply telling you not to feed your child certain things because it makes her jealous is not a good reason!

Hilarious. 🤣

My daughter swapped her chicken and salad wrap a while back for a roll up.... ate a roll up for lunch while her friend happily ate her wrap lol.

It doesn't matter what you send, some other kids will think what your kid has is better.

I'd ignore her and let her get on with things.

Most kids here take a pack of crisps I believe, not allowed for snack but they allow them at lunch time in packed lunch. Pringles aren’t healthiest choice but a few in a pot is fine and really not an issue.

her sons food and jealousy is not your problem. I would ignore her.

when I was a kid you could get the mini Pringles and little plastic cases if I remember rightly?? Everyone had them 😂

Do this!

Mad cow! Block and ignore the nutter who has gone a bit weird about her pfb. She's potential crazy mil material, just give her 20 years.

Oh dear. I think I'd just pretend I'd thought she was joking around in a friendly way and send a row of smily faces. And continue sending pringles obvs. Then if she brings it up again you can say 'omg I thought you were being funny! My kid gets food envy too! Bit of an occupational hazard with packed lunches isn't it' and then change the subject / disengage / keep sending whatever you want.

There is a small chance this is an attempt at humour. You could start a reply by saying ‘Can’t quite decide if this is for real?’

If it is, the woman is either hugely stressed -probably financially to the extent that she can’t afford Pringles - or a nut case. Probably the second but you can have fun by pretending you think the first. You could continue ‘Knowing how badly cost of living is hitting many families, I wonder if you would like me to include an extra portion for Bartholomew? It won’t be for much longer as we are just finishing up the Christmas Pringles.’

She is probably not under stress. She is probably trying to play Nutrition Police. This may embarrass her in a way that being directly called out would not. But if she really cannot afford Pringles, perhaps her DC deserves a little treat - much as I agree that in the long run he like all of us will need to master his disappointments

This is not your problem. Ignore. She's embarrassing herself, honestly.

If it's within school policy I'd keep giving them to my DC until DC/myself decided not to.

I would however, whether by message or F2F ask her to excuse your ignorance in not replying in the same way as you've excused her ignorance by even asking such a question.

Surely she’s joking!

You don't have to reply to a ridiculous message from a random person you barely know.

Just ignore it.

I'm hoping you mean a "wrap" and not a "Rizla"!

"Thanks for your message. We have pringles in, I'm not buying alternatives for someone else's preferences. Sorry."

The entitlement on some people baffles me!

Wow, you must be completely devoid of a sense of humour @Eyerollcentral. Do you not think perhaps @Surfsenior was being facetious?

Just ignore her. What happens if you put something else in and another child gets jealous? It's ridiculous

Madness. Ignore her.