Life With Boys: Free Cafeteria Food

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My boys have been around coupons, free samples and money saving strategies their whole life. It is not uncommon for the boys to pickup coupons they see in a parking lot or to ask if I got an item for free. They are accustomed to scouting out free samples in stores too.

Capt. M came home from school on Friday and he was so excited! He said “Mom I ate two breakfasts today! I ate one here and one at school!”

Me: “Capt. M why would you order breakfast in the cafeteria when you ate at home?”

Capt. M: “Mom it was FREE! I didn’t have to pay anything and I got to have cereal!” (If only you could hear the excitement he had in his voice!)

Me: “Honey, it wasn’t free. I have to pay for everything you get from the cafeteria.”

Capt. M: “But I didn’t give her any money. And the milk at lunch is free too. I don’t give her money.”

Me: “I send an envelope of money to your teacher and the cafeteria keeps track of your purchases. You don’t pay money to the cafeteria lady, but mommy does. When you give her your lunch number, she records down what you bought and then mommy gets a bill.”

Yes, we had a little lesson on finances! Poor little man was so proud of himself for scoring a “free” meal and milk. We now have an agreement that he must ask permission to order from the cafeteria.

At least he said something before he got a week’s worth of “free” cafeteria food!

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Renae is a married working mom of two handsome boys. She works as a registered dental hygienist by day and blogs here at How to Have it All by night. She enjoys cooking from scratch, working in her vegetable garden and functional training.

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Comments

  1. Gary Arlit says:

    Hilarious Renae!
    Kids move so fast these days, it’s hard to stay ahead of them!
    You’re doing a great job
    Gary