A Modern Mother

Will you sit by me?

I did my time yesterday. Lunch duty. I was in the hall with about 150 kids and trays and trays of fish and chips.

After pouring 100 glasses of water (half-full, so the little ones don't spill) I looked out upon the sea of children. The floor was slightly damp from the rain and the greasy smell of chips permeated the air. Groups of friends were talking. The buzz loud, but comforting. I saw my youngest (nearly 5!) with rosy cheeks, laughing with her "boy" friend. She was surrounded by a table of other 4 and 5 year-olds. She looked happy.

Do you have what it takes ... to be a dinner lady?

So, picture this scene: Four mums at my house having coffee. It's a blustery morning, leaves falling, and we are in my garden room, which is the only room I will receive anyone, as the rest of the house is a complete tip. One mum has a PhD and lectures at the local business school. One is a self-employed barrister, another an ex-Andersen consultant. I have the least impressive credentials as an ex-Marketing director. Our mission? To discuss the lunch time supervisor rota (aka dinner lady) and to induct a new mum. You see, the more mums on the rota, the FEWER TIMES you have to do it yourself.

School dinners ... PLEASE

After a rocky start, HM (4) is settling in school. Thirty four-year-olds is a lot and our school is handling the larger credit crunched intake very, ahem, creatively. The first week HM went mornings (9 - 12). The following week afternoons (1 - 3). This week she goes mornings, and gets to stay for lunch.

Therein lies the next hurdle. She doesn't want school dinners, she wants a packed lunch.

School dinners are healthy, good and affordable (thank you Jamie Oliver). I really don't want to be buttering ham sarnies and washing grapes in between the brushhairgetdressedeatbreakfast out-the-door palava. More importantly, I most likely don't have anything in the fridge suitable for a packed lunch (parmesean cheese and limp carrots?) I pleaded with her to try school dinners.